JohnBelushi-AnimalHouse-Zit

Bob Woodward wrote a biography of John Belushi in 1985 that all his friends hated, which was turned into a 1989 movie starring Michael Chiklis, which his friends boycotted and most people never saw.  Belushi’s widow went on to publish an oral history in 2005, and now that book is set to become the basis of a film from Todd Phillips (Hangover, Old School) and Steven Conrad (Pursuit of Happyness).  Hey, see if you can guess what my d*ck is.  (*hooker stomps testicles, ejaculates on table of sorority girls*)  It’s a zit.  Get it?

The Chicago-born Belushi was a member of the Second City comedy troupe before becoming one of the original performers on “SNL” from 1975 until 1979, when he left to pursue a film career full-time. His feature resume includes “National Lampoon’s Animal House” (1978), “1941″ (1979), “The Blues Brothers” (1980), “Continental Divide” (1981) and “Neighbors” (1981). Belushi was also slotted for roles opposite frequent collaborator Dan Aykroyd in “Ghostbusters” (1984) and “Spies Like Us” (1985) — both co-written by Aykroyd — before he died.

Meanwhile, Jim Belushi went on to star in “According to Jim.”

One actor mentioned as a potential strong fit [mentioned by who? -Ed.] for the iconic role is newly ubiquitous Zach Galifianakis, who starred for Phillips in both “The Hangover” and the upcoming November release “Due Date.” But Galifianakis is already 40 years old, as is Jack Black, another funnyman who embodies much of Belushi’s zany spirit.  In 2008, Black was quoted as saying he would turn down any offer to star in a Belushi biopic, saying, “His life is not as funny as his work, and watching me do an imitation of him doing his ‘Saturday Night Live’ bits won’t be as funny as watching him do his ‘SNL’ bits.”

And this has been another great episode of “Jack Black: Unlikely Voice of Reason.”

The next generation has fielded a roster of 21st century versions that could potentially pull off the role — Jonah Hill (26), Seth Rogen (28), Ethan Suplee (34) and Tyler Labine (32), who actually appeared as Belushi in the 2005 NBC movie, “Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of ‘Mork & Mindy.’” Belushi was also once portrayed by Eric Siegel in the 2002 ABC telemovie “Gilda Radner: It’s Always Something.” [THR]

KEVIN JAMES OR GTFO.

On a serious note, I feel like this article was all just an excuse to float possible casting choices.  If it’s based on an oral-history-style biography, it seems to me that a movie that was part interviews and part stock footage would be a better fit (not that that’s never been done before…).  Andy Kaufman was great, and a lot more of an eccentric than most comedians, but Man on the Moon still turned out like a lame version of an Andy Kaufman documentary special.

I give this idea two silent mouth farts and a tentative wank.

RELATED ASYLUM POLL: Who’s your favorite dead-before-their-time SNL player?