Mind Over Matter

Controversial psychologist Eugene Landy--who reportedly has extreme control over Beach Boy Brian Wilson--also may have plenty of control over “Love and Mercy.” The film project about Wilson’s comeback from drug and mental problems is in development with Cinecorp Prod. and producer Gene Kirkwood--with Landy as exec producer.

Kirkwood told us that Wilson and Landy are expected to have a say in casting and be regulars on the set to contribute dialogue: “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Kirkwood.

Although Warner Bros. publicity would not confirm the studio’s involvement, it will distribute, according to a source. Warner Bros. Records recently shipped 250,000 copies of Wilson’s first solo album, “Brian Wilson,” which last week shot to number 54 (“with a bullet”) on Billboard’s pop album chart.

Rather than a probe of Landy’s much-publicized therapeutic methods--he faces charges of ethical and licensing code violations by the Board of Medical Quality Assurance--”Love and Mercy” is more likely to be the no-apologies gospel according to Landy and Wilson.

“I don’t want a controversial film; I want a commercial movie,” Kirkwood says. “I’m going to get into what it is to take a guy that weighs 310 pounds, get him down to 180, get his voice and his life back, and make him great again.

“I want it to be an ‘up’ movie about friendship and a remaking of a genius--like ‘Rocky’ with music. It’s similar to ‘Beckett’ except that they stay together and they make a great album.”