Joplin Biopics Moving Ahead

The competing Janis Joplin biopics are moving ahead.

The family-authorized version, budgeted at $20 million, will be directed by Nancy Savoca and feature Lili Taylor lip-synching actual Joplin songs.

The other project has Marc Rocco directing Melissa Etheridge, who will sing Joplin songs herself.

Rocco, whose credits include “Murder in the First,” will then segue to another biopic, this one of James Dean. He’s apparently eyeing Stephen Dorff to play Dean, since Leonardo DiCaprio dropped out two years ago.

Meanwhile, Barry Levinson will direct a Bobby Darin biopic, called “Dreamer,” and he is reportedly in meetings with Johnny Depp for the lead role. First, though, Levinson will film “Sphere,” an underwater sci-fi thriller based on Michael Crichton’s novel. Stars include Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, Samuel L. Jackson, Queen Latifah, Peter Coyote and Liev Schreiber.