There’s no R.E.M. biopic, but Michael Stipe already has a surprising casting choice in mind.
The frontman, 66, appeared on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” on April 23, where he was promoting his upcoming solo work and reflecting on his storied career. During the conversation, the topic turned to music biopics and who could possibly play a younger version of him on screen.
Michael Stipe Reveals Surprising Choice for Hypothetical R.E.M. Biopic Cast
CBSWhen asked who he’d want to portray him, Stipe didn’t hesitate to start with a joke.
“Someone really hot,” he said, drawing laughs from the audience.
The conversation continued with a few tongue-in-cheek suggestions—mostly related to the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer‘s full, thick beard—including “Arrested Development” star David Cross and “Spider-Man” actor J.K. Simmons. Then, he landed on a more unexpected name:
Billie Eilish.
“Maybe Billie Eilish could do it,” he said, referencing a younger version of himself.
“You guys got similar blue eyes there,” Colbert replied.
The “Losing My Religion” singer then shared a brief anecdote about a past encounter with Eilish.
“She held a door open for me once at a restaurant in Manhattan,” Stipe said about the 10-time Grammy Award winner. “I didn’t know who she was until she was down the street.”
GettyColbert said he’d work on introducing the two in real life.
Eilish, 24, meanwhile, has a major project of her own on the way. The “Wildflower” singer is set to release “Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D),” a concert film directed by James Cameron and Eilish herself premiering in theaters on May 8.
Michael Stipe Announces Debut Solo Album Is on the Way
CBSBeyond the biopic conversation, the “Everybody Hurts” rocker also used the appearance to share a major update on his long-awaited solo debut.
“My record is coming out at the end of the year. Nobody knows that yet so I’m announcing it now,” he said.
According to Far Out Magazine, the project has been years in the making. Stipe has previously spoken about taking time away from music after R.E.M. disbanded in 2011, later returning to solo work in 2019.
GettyOn Colbert’s show, he offered a glimpse into the creative process behind the project, including one track that was conceived from a recording made by his backyard in Georgia.
“I’m writing the final lyrics for my first ever solo album, and one of the songs is the sound of a tree hearing itself for the first time,” he said.
Stipe also revealed that the track incorporates elements of a sea shanty, even sharing humorous, self-written lyrics during the interview. The moment led to a brief onstage exchange with Colbert, adding to the playful tone of the segment.
The singer later performed a new song titled “The Rest of Ever,” offering the first public preview of the upcoming album, as it’s the first time he’s ever performed it live.
The project will mark Stipe’s first full-length solo release following decades as the frontman of three-time Grammy winners R.E.M., a band that helped define alternative rock before calling it quits after more than 30 years together.
