Bill Murray Launching NFTs Based On His Real Life Stories

Bill Murray rose to prominence on The National Lampoon Radio Hour before establishing himself as a national presence on Saturday Night Live from 1977 to 1980. Murray’s popularity has been such that he holds an iconic status in American popular culture. The enigmatic actor is now partnering with The Chive to reveal biographical “Bill Murray Stories” for a one-of-a-kind collection of NFTs.

Bill Murray is finally ready to discuss his “Bill Murray Stories.” But, in typical Bill Murray fashion, he will not reveal his past or musings in a conventional manner. The enigmatic and beloved Caddyshack and Ghostbusters star is teaming up with viral photo site and streaming company The Chive to launch a line of blockchain collectibles that will tell verified Murray stories.

Each token in the Official Bill Murray NFT 1000 will feature a unique image of Murray as well as accompanying text containing a brief anecdote about the actor that he has either personally revealed to the company or has verified from previously published material. John Resig, co-founder of Chive Media Group, revealed it.

“I asked Bill’s thoughts about all the Bill Murray stories swirling about. Bill gave a surprisingly candid answer, ‘I like them just fine, I was even present for a few.’ Bill leaned in with that mischievous twinkle in his eye, ‘But there are more stories out there, better stories.’ I asked Billy why he hadn’t decided to tell them, to fill in the missing pieces of the mythology? ‘The timing has never been right, nor has the storytelling vehicle. I don’t want to film a documentary or write an autobiography. Social media is for the birds. Still, I wish most people would understand how much I like fresh eggs, laid daily.’”

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A sample Bill Murray story published on Tuesday was about Murray’s phone. Notably, the image in the story was not the NFT.

“It appears to be an eight-year-old Blackberry Classic. He’s nicknamed the relic, ‘Bill Urry’ Why? The ‘M’ key doesn’t work. If you’ve received a text from Bill in the last five years, the M’s are omitted. Considering Bill prefers texting to talking, that’s a lot of missing M’s.” 

The project represents a potentially astute entry into the crowded NFT market, as each token not only features a celebrity image, but also a narrative written by one of Hollywood’s most mysterious icons. The Hollywood Reporter was given a tour of The Chive’s offices on Wednesday and was able to see some of the Murray NFTs in progress.

The stories ranged from professional topics (such as discussing a role he turned down) to philosophical Murray-isms, to his unusual pastimes and quirks, in addition to documenting some of his encounters with fans and fellow celebrities. They form an impressionistic summary of a celebrity who has always been difficult to define and pin down. Some of the actor’s most publicized stories, however, will be left unresolved in order to maintain some air of mystery.

In the coming weeks, many more details about the NFT and its accompanying stories, including the NFT hero image by artist David Grizzle, will be revealed. The proceeds from the first token up for auction, according to Resig, will go entirely to charity, and the Official Bill Murray NFT 1000 will be one of the first projects to debut on Coinbase’s upcoming NFT marketplace. Murray was represented by David Nochimson on the deal.

The Chive began in 2008 as a photo blog with a frat house vibe, but over time, it’s become known for directing its fan community toward charitable endeavours. To get the latest updates, keep an eye on Thirsty.

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