Metallica's lead singer will join the cast of Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile , which tells the story of the killer Ted Bundy.
James Hetfield has decided to go beyond just being the frontman of Metallica and conquer the big screen. The band's leader will make his dramatic debut in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile , the next film by director Joe Berlinger ( Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows ).
The biographical production tells the story of serial killer Ted Bundy from the perspective of his girlfriend, Elizabeth Kloepfer, who refused to believe who he really was for years. Hetfield will play Bob Hayward, the first police officer to arrest Bundy in 1975.
Theodore Robert Bundy became known for murdering numerous women in the early 1970s. Before his execution, he confessed to 30 murders in seven states across the United States.
This will be Hetfield's first dramatic role, but not his first work in film and television. He has previously played himself and narrated several productions , such as the animated series The Simpsons and American Dad .
In a press release, Berlinger — who co-directed the Metallica documentary Some Kind of Monster (2004) — spoke about his relationship with the band. “After spending hundreds of hours backstage with James and the rest of Metallica, I realized the strength of his charisma and stage presence ,” he said. “So I believe it’s very natural for him to bring the same strength and magnetism to a dramatic role. That’s why, when he agreed to be part of my film, I was flattered.”
Besides the musician, the cast includes Zac Efron in the lead role and is rounded out by names such as Lily Collins, John Malkovich, Jim Parsons, and Haley Joel Osment. The film is in production and does not yet have a confirmed release date.
