The Runaways

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The Runaways Trivia

A character mentions Elvis and Priscilla Presley's divorce as a sign of the decline of rock and roll. Cherie's sister Marie is played in this movie by Riley Keough, who is a granddaughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley.
The producers only acquired the life story rights of Cherie Currie, Joan Jett, Sandy West (II) and Kim Fowley. Band members Lita Ford and Jackie Fox declined to grant the producers their life story rights.
A New York Times review of the film quotes Joan Jett as saying that when she listened to the first tape of Kristen Stewart singing one of her songs, she thought it was a mistake and that it was actually her.
Evan Rachel Wood was considered for the role of Joan Jett.
'Robert Romanus', who plays the guitar teacher who tries to get Joan to play "On Top of Old Smoky," thirty years earlier had also costarred with the real Cherie Currie in her movie debut, Foxes.
Though she declined to participate in the film, Lita Ford did agree to meet with Scout Taylor-Compton prior to filming. After a very emotional meeting, Ford gave her approval of the actress claiming that even if the film was bad, Taylor-Compton would do her character justice.
Joan Jett's one regret about this film is that the title card at the end of the film that reveals the fate of herself, Kim Fowley and Cherie Currie does not also feature that of Sandy West (II). On the DVD commentary, Jett unofficially dedicates the film to West, who died just before the film went into production.
Alessandra Torresani was originally cast as Lita Ford.
Originally Scout Taylor-Compton had auditioned for the role of Joan Jett. In order to prepare for this role, Scout began to try and learn some of the Runaways songs on guitar. Then, she ended up trying out for Sandy West because she already knew how to play drums. Then, they wanted her to try for the role of Robin, so she had to try and learn how to play the bass guitar until finally, they ended up giving her the role of Lita Ford, where then she ended up having to learn how to play the guitar.
While filming this movie, Kristen Stewart cut her trademark long, full hair into an uneven 'shag' hairstyle. Photos of the hairstyle were released on June 11, 2009, garnering a great deal of media attention.
In the DVD commentary, Joan Jett states it was the Canadian rock band Rush (II) that bullied The Runaways from having a sound check.
Cody Kennedy was considered for the role of Cherie Currie.
The real Cherie Currie claims she collapsed onto her kitchen floor and burst into tears when she learned Dakota Fanning had signed to play her in the film. Fanning is Currie's favorite actress.
Dakota Fanning, Kristen Stewart, Scout Taylor-Compton, Stella Maeve and Alia Shawkat spent one month before starting filming The Runaways, rehearsing and recording The Runaways' songs.
The film condenses the actual story of the band. In reality, The Runaways continued to perform successfully for another three years after Cherie Currie's departure. Moreover, Currie achieved moderate success as an actress and solo musician well into the 1980s before problems with substance abuse stalled her career.