It's my understanding that Hollywood wanted to make a movie about a rocker, so they got Brooks to play the part, complete with CD releases and concert footage, to film for the movie. This way, Hollywood writers don't have to "backscript" and dub existing footage of somebody else to achieve the cinematic continuity so essential to the viewer's "willing suspension of disbelief." By scripting the role, and having Garth play it "live," (with all the attendant [pre-production]hype) Hollywood is hoping to produce a mega-blockbuster.

From this perspective, it's an exploration of the musician as performing actor that Brooks must find excitingly challenging.

Please be advised that these are my own thoughts about rumors I've heard; they are unsubstantiated by any research whatsoever.

V