Jeremy Allen White channels rock legend Bruce Springsteen in new biopic

The trailer for Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere has dropped, with The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White stepping into the shoes of rock icon Bruce Springsteen, nicknamed “The Boss,” in the new biopic.

The film is based on the book by Warren Zanes, Deliver Me From Nowhere. For Zanes, this is not a typical biopic as “it doesn’t start before success – it starts in the middle.”

Rather than aiming for a full-life story, the film follows Springsteen as he records his sixth album, Nebraska, a work that is deeply raw, emotional and personal, much to the chagrin of the record label who would rather prefer a follow-up to his 1980 pop hit Hungry Heart; with bits and pieces of his past that would later leave a mark on his identity.

The trailer navigates the rising fame of Springsteen after the commercial success of his album, Born to Run. It shows him defying showbiz, and his own willingness to take risks, as emphasized by Springsteen’s longtime manager and confidant Jon Landau (Jeremy Strong), who is seen telling a record executive that his client’s deeply personal album is “not about the charts. This is about Bruce Springsteen and these are the songs that he wants to work on right now.”

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The trailer also glimpses of White as Springsteen playing harmonica and singing Nebraska's title track, as well as Springsteen's breakthrough hit Born To Run. It also hints at Springsteen’s complicated childhood, his strained relationship with his father, and his music as a means to “repairing that hole in himself.”

Springsteen was full of praise for the actor, saying that White was nailing it, calling him a “terrific actor.” “He sings well,” he said in a conversation with Sirius XM. “He sings very well.” In an interview earlier this year with GQ, White said he would spend hours and hours studying the singer’s videos and had worked with a vocal coach to nail Springsteen's vocal tone and speaking cadence.

Directed by Scott Cooper, the film also stars Paul Walter Hauser as guitar tech Mike Batlan; Stephen Graham as Doug, Springsteen’s father; Odessa Young as Faye, Springsteen’s romantic interest; Gaby Hoffmann as Adele, Springsteen’s mother; Marc Maron as producer Chuck Plotkin; and David Krumholtz as Columbia Records executive Al Teller.

The film is slated for a theatrical release on October 24.

Currently, White is gearing up for the season 4 premiere of his Emmy-award-winning series, The Bear. The series revolves around talented haute cuisine chef Carmen “Carmy” Anthony Berzatto (White), who inherits his family’s Italian beef sandwich shop after the death of his brother. It follows his challenges in running a small business, leaving the world of Michelin-star restaurants behind, at the same time dealing with debts, unruly staff and his own pain and family trauma.

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First released on June 23, 2022, the show received critical acclaim for its tension, writing, directing, performances, character development and accurate portrayal of restaurant kitchens as well as its approach to themes such as suicide and trauma. Winning ten Emmys for its first season, including Best Comedy Series as well as acting accolades for White, Ayo Edebiri, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, season 4 aims to build on this success, delivering a compelling blend of intense drama and heartfelt moments.

The Bear Season 4 premieres on June 25 on Hulu.

Entertainment