André 3000 as Jimi Hendrix - First Look - Photo

The Jimi Hendrix biopic has been in the works for close to a decade now (if not longer), yet one thing has remained constant: André 3000 was always the top candidate for the lead role.

Now, the release of All Is By My Side is on the horizon. The film will cover Jimi Hendrix’s early years as a struggling musician in London, shortly before the release of the legendary Are You Experienced. Naturally, this approach means that most of the guitarist's best-known songs will likely be excluded. However, the film, which is set to debut at this year's Toronto International Film Festival, has already built up a healthy buzz in the movie industry.

Check out the first-look photo of Outkast's André 3000 -- a.k.a. André Benjamin -- as the iconic, Seattle-born guitarist via Entertainment Weekly:

Credit: TIFF

So what do you think of the casting choice? Sound off in the comments!