Adapted from Words Like That S2 Ep. 8, originally released July 29, 2024.
(Since this news broke at the same time one of kid's arms did, it flew under my radar. A big shoutout, then, to Randomine Records patron Tom for bringing this to my attention.)
The Boss is finally getting a biopic.
But not only is the Boss getting a biopic, but the Boss is getting a biopic specifically set during the production of his Nebraska album, incidentally, my favorite Bruce Springsteen album by far.
The record is a stripped affair--just Bruce and his guitar, plus a little harmonica here and there. The songs were originally intended to be demos, but some cracker-jack production made them releasable as a commercially viable product. In 2023, a book called Deliver Me from Nowhere was published about the album's production and will serve as basis for the film.
Jeremy Allen White, an incredible actor best known for the hit restaurant drama The Bear, will be taking on the lead role in the film. Although the White has proven his acting chops, physically, I'm not sure if he really looks fits the part. But as I said in a Patreon comment, “If Joaquin Phoenix can play Johnny Cash, I think this guy can play Bruce.”
From what I understand, White's also trying to sing these songs in the movie himself, as opposed to having another singer come in and overdub or just using the actual Bruce vocal track. I don't know if Jeremy Allen White can sing, or if he's ever sang before in a production, but it sounds interesting, and I'm really excited about this picture, particularly since they're focusing on Nebraska.
Jeremy Strong, another great actor, is in talks to co-star, and it's being directed by Scott Cooper. Although I initially didn't recognize the name, Cooper has actually amassed in impressive filmography, which includes the excellent Crazy Heart, another music-based picture, featuring Jeff Bridges as a washed-up singer, and Cooper's most recent picture, The Pale Blue Eye, a fictional 19th-century twisty mystery involving Edgar Allan Poe and starring Christian Bale. Although the latter's plot is a tad contrived and low-brow, Cooper directed the picture masterfully.
While time will only tell if the script can match the rest of the elements in place, with the pedigree behind and in front of the camera, the project is shaping up to be something special.
Your turn. Are you excited about The Boss finally getting a biopic? What do you think about Jeremy Allen White's casting? Is this something you’ve got to go see this in theaters, or maybe check out on streaming? Let us know in the comments.
Cole Powell is an arts and media commentator and award-winning singer/songwriter from Jayess, Mississippi, USA. Powell holds degrees in computer technology and liberal arts and sciences and wants to be a comic book artist when he grows up and learns to draw.