Early Life Of Late AC/DC Singer BON SCOTT Is Subject Of Upcoming Movie

The early life of Bon Scott is set to hit cinema screens in a project currently underway in Western Australia.

Before the iconic thunderous riffs of AC/DC echoed across the globe, a young Bon Scott roamed the streets of Fremantle, Western Australia in 1963. His path from a cherished yet troubled youth to a prodigious artist is a tale interwoven with the threads of magic and passion.

Now, his legendary journey from obscurity to becoming one of the most celebrated frontmen of his generation is set to captivate audiences in an upcoming film that delves into his early years — a story of a rising star before he became a supernova.

In collaboration with HALO Films and Protocol Pictures, "The Kid From Harvest Road" is currently in development. Renowned writer Stephen Belowsky and co-writer/director David Vincent Smith are at the helm of this project, promising to unveil untold chapters of Bon Scott's life with no objection from Scott's estate.

Produced by Tim Duffy, and featuring executive producers Ian Hale, Nicko Mezzino and Stephen Belowsky, this film promises to be a poignant portrayal of the man behind the legend.

"We are thrilled to embark on this journey to illuminate the early years of Bon Scott," says Ian Hale from HALO Films.

"His story is one of resilience, passion, and the relentless pursuit of his dreams. Through this film, we aim to honor his legacy and inspire audiences with the transformative power of music and determination."

Lee Tiger Halley, whose recent breakout turn in "Boy Swallows Universe" has been universally acclaimed, will be stepping into the iconic shoes of young Bon Scott. A Fremantle boy himself, Halley was first choice for producers because of his magnetism which mirrors Bon Scott.

Bringing a story of Bon Scott's early years to the big screen has been a passion project for writer Stephen Belowsky.

"I was truly inspired by his charismatic character, but what interested me most was his early, life not the caricature we all know on stage," he says. "The teen who walked the streets of Fremantle... this is a love letter to Fremantle and Bon reimagined through the eyes of the author."

Production is expected to be underway in early 2025.

Few rock singers were as unforgettable — and have proved as enduring — as Bon Scott. As the frontman of AC/DC from 1974 until his tragic passing in 1980 (at the age of 33),his "rock 'n' roll pirate persona," street poet lyrics, and striking image (one of the first rockers to proudly sport multiple tattoos) have made him an absolute legend. Additionally, Bon's vocals were featured in several pre-AC/DC bands, including FRATERNITY, THE VALENTINES and THE SPEKTORS.

But really, it is the quality of the songs of the "Bon era" of AC/DC that serve as his greatest legacy — "Highway To Hell", "Sin City", "Whole Lotta Rosie", "Let There Be Rock", "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", "TNT" and "It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)"… the list is seemingly endless.

How does Bon measure up to rock's all-time great frontmen? Classic Rock magazine declared him "the greatest rock n' roll frontman of all time" in 2004, beating out the lofty likes of Freddie Mercury, Robert Plant and Axl Rose in the process.

Scott was invited to join AC/DC by Malcolm and Angus Young in 1974, and achieved international stardom before his death at the age of 33 from alcohol poisoning.

He sang on AC/DC's first six studio albums, including "High Voltage", "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", "Let There Be Rock" and "Highway To Hell".

Scott died of acute alcohol poisoning after a night of heavy drinking at a club in London, just days after attending a session with Malcolm and Angus Young where they began working on music for what became the "Back In Black" album.

According to the AC/DC FAQ web site, Bon and the friend, a musician named Alisdair Kinnear, had been drinking the evening of February 19, 1980 and Bon apparently fell asleep during the ride home. Kinnear could not wake Bon, so he left him in the car to sleep. Kinnear awoke early in the evening on February 20, checked on Bon, and found him unconscious in the car. Bon could not be revived, and was pronounced dead.