ZOOEY DESCHANEL - DESCHANEL BEATS SPEARS AND LOHAN TO JOPLIN ROLE

ZOOEY DESCHANEL has beaten LINDSAY LOHAN, BRITNEY SPEARS and SCARLETT JOHANSSON to the coveted role of JANIS JOPLIN in the forthcoming movie biopic of the tragic singer. Pop punk PINK was originally director PENELOPE SPHEERIS' first choice to play the late rocker, but pulled out, blaming the movie's producers for turning the casting process into "some circus pop contest - who's the 'it' girl who wants to play Janis". However, ALMOST FAMOUS beauty Deschanel, 26, has signed to play Joplin in THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JANIS, which starts filming in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in November (06). PIECE OF MY HEART hitmaker Joplin died of an heroin and alcohol overdose in a Hollywood hotel room in October 1970 at the age of 27.