Shaggy-haired actor Paul Dano to star as shaggy-haired musician Brian Wilson in upcoming biopic

Shaggy-haired actor Paul Dano will play shaggy-haired musician Brian Wilson in an upcoming biopic. Dano has been tapped to play the young version of the occasional Beach Boy in Love & Mercy, an offbeat look at the life and loves of the troubled singer. (The older, fatter Wilson will also be featured in the movie, though this part has not yet been cast.)

Officially sanctioned by Wilson and his wife Melinda, the film focuses both on Wilson’s music and his fight with mental illness. Bill Pohlad, producer of movies like The Tree Of Life and Brokeback Mountain, will direct. Oren Moverman, who also penned I’m Not There and Jesus’ Son, wrote the script. While nothing’s set in stone yet, The Hollywood Reporter is saying that Atticus Ross, Trent Reznor's Social Network collaborator, is in talks to do the movie’s score. News of the project follows announcement of Aaron Eckhart in a film about Dennis Wilson; presumably the Mike Love biopic will air someday on VH1 Classic.