Let's face it — Hollywood has never exactly been a hotspot of original thinking. It's an industry of remakes, sequels, book adaptations, comic adaptations, video game adaptations, and board game adaptations. So why wouldn't they also pillage the life stories and experiences of real people?

In just the past few years we've had the likes of Will Smith's Ali, Russell Crowe's A Beautiful Mind, Jamie Foxx as Ray, Leonardo Dicaprio in The Aviator, Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda, and Gael García Bernal as Che Guevara in The Motorcycle Diaries. James Caviezel even played Jesus Christ.

2012 is no different. Outkast star Andre 3000 has been picked to play Jimi Hendrix, Sacha Baron Cohen has begun filming his Freddie Mercury film, and Lindsay Lohan must have begged to land the role of Elizabeth Taylor in a made-for-TV project.

Let's take a closer look...

Lindsay Lohan in Liz & Dick

I'm pretty sure Elizabeth Taylor wouldn't approve of Lindsay Lohan playing her in the Lifetime film, Liz & Dick, based on the true story of Taylor's passionate romance with actor Richard Burton, whom she married twice during her life.

There are a couple of problems with this casting. Lohan might've been a good actress in her heyday but she doesn't possess the pose and class of Taylor. Being caught scoring drugs in dark alleyways or being passed out in the gutter isn't really the behaviour of an A-list actress.

And then there's the small matter of looks. Lindsay Lohan has freckles and naturally ginger hair and I would imagine they'd have to use a whole lot of wigs, collagen, and even CGI to get Taylor's fuller lips, mesmerising eyes, and her figure back in those days.

With that said, Lohan will hopefully bring some acting to the table — we haven't seen that from her since A Prairie Home Companion in 2006.

And Richard Burton? True Blood actor Grant Bowler lands that honour.

Andre 3000 as Jimi Hendrix

Florida-born rapper, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and actor, Andre 3000 could not be a better choice to play Jimi Hendrix. Andre 3000's body of work has almost been an audition for the part. Remember the music video for Heya where he played different members of his own band, each with their own slight nuances and characteristics?

And not only does he make good music, he's always been known to be quite an eccentric in both his music style as well as his fashion choices. He's also a very well respected actor having done films like Be Cool, Revolver and Four Brothers. Several studios have tried to make a Jimi Hendrix film but his estate has thus far refused the rights to his music. Hopefully they'll change their mind this time...

Filming on All Is By My Side — about Hendrix's time in London during the late 1960s - is currently under way in Dublin.

Sacha Baron Cohen as Freddie Mercury

Never mind the antics of Ali G, Borat, Bruno and his latest character, General Aladeen. Beneath the surface, Sacha Baron Cohen is a very talented actor and stand up comedian. And you can be sure that he'll put some his musical theatre background to good use for his upcoming role as Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in a film that's being scripted by Frost/Nixon scribe Peter Morgan. The actor has a striking resemblance to Mercury and definitely showed off his singing chops in the Tim Burton musical thriller, Sweeney Todd.

Idris Elba as Madiba

Yes, there's yet another Nelson Mandela biopic on the way — this one based on his autobiography Long Walk To Freedom. Due to begin filming in South Africa as soon as Elba wraps on No Good Deeds and starring Luther star Idris Elba, hopefully it will wipe all memory of Terrence Howard and Jennifer Hudson's portrayal of Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela.