LONDON, April 25 (UPI) -- U.S. cable network HBO has commissioned a movie about the 1960s drug arrests of Rolling Stones' Keith Richards and Mick Jagger.
The Independent reported Sunday the movie, "A Butterfly on a Wheel," is to be filmed next year with actor Nigel Havers playing his father, Lord Havers, who was the defense attorney for Jagger and Richards, both of whom faced heavy fines and prison sentences.
"It's a quirky bit of English history, but it has international appeal -- 1967 was just an incredible year and this incident was a very significant turning point in history and the way the media works," said screenwriter Nick Fisher. "It was perhaps the birth of a new kind of youth culture and a change in tabloid journalism -- it was the first big 'pop stars and drugs' story."
In 1967, after a tip, police raided Richards' home, where traces of marijuana were found. In addition, amphetamine pills were discovered in Jagger's coat and heroin was found on a visitor.
Both Richards and Jagger were convicted and sentenced to prison, but there was a public outcry and the cases were appealed.
Richards subsequently won his appeal and Jagger's prison sentence was reduced to probation.
