Bradley Cooper Opens Up About Eddie Vedder's Impact on 'A Star Is Born'

A Star Is Born is a remake of a remake. Bradley Cooper's character Jackson Maine is a riff on John Norman Howard, the singer Kris Kristofferson played in the 1976 film version (which was a second remake of the 1937 original); however, people are saying the actor's character reminds them of another, very specific musician — Eddie Vedder — and that's not a coincidence. 

During a recent press junket, the first-time director revealed the Pearl Jam singer's impact on the film. 

“I went up to Seattle and spent four or five days with him and I asked him 9,000 questions,” Cooper explained. “And he gave me minor, little things that only musicians know about what to do, just aesthetically and the inner workings.” 

He now considers Vedder a good friend, and friends can be honest with each other, so when he told the rockstar that he was going to be playing the lead role, his reaction was, well, honest.

“He thought it was crazy I was going to do this movie,” Cooper laughed. “He was like, ‘What? Bro, don’t do that.’"

Even though he didn't approve of The Hangover star playing Maine, Vedder helped out by giving Cooper notes on songs and the film.

A Star Is Born hits theaters on October 5. Watch a trailer below.