Jeremy Allen White talks preparing to play Bruce Springsteen in movie biopic

He will play The Boss in Deliver Me From Nowhere

Jeremy Allen White and Bruce Springsteen
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 28th Aug 2024

The Bear actor Jeremy Allen White has spoken about how he’s preparing to play Bruce Springsteen in an upcoming movie biopic.

33-year-old White will play Springsteen in 20th Century and Disney’s Deliver Me From Nowhere, which follows the making of The Boss’ seminal 1982 album ‘Nebraska.’

Scott Cooper is the writer and director of the movie, and Succession actor Jeremy Strong has been cast as Springsteen’s manager Jon Landau.

In a new interview with GQ to promote his new Calvin Klein campaign, White spoke about his style similarities to Springsteen.

“Bruce Springsteen is - I mean this in the very best way - he's a guy,” White said. “He's a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy. It was exciting to know going into this thing that we had at least that in common.”

Bruce Springsteen

Commenting on how he’s “getting into the groove” for the role, White continued: “I'm really lucky that there's sort of a team of folks now in place to help young actors portray rock stars.

“I've got a really talented group of people helping me train vocally, musically, to get ready for this thing. I'm also really lucky (that) Bruce is really supportive of the film, and so I've had some access to him and he's just the greatest guy.

“Also, there's just so much footage. It's really great to go down a YouTube rabbit hole and find him at all these different periods in his life and be able to listen to his speaking voice as well as his singing voice.

“That's kind of been the deal, just listening to him a lot and watching him a lot. It's been really fun preparing.”

When Deliver Me From Nowhere was first announced in April, Scott Cooper said: “Through themes of despair, disillusionment, and the struggles of everyday Americans, Bruce has formed an unparalleled legacy, painting an unflinching portrait of the human condition.

“Yet, amidst the darkness, a sense of resilience and a sense of hope shines through, reflecting an indomitable spirit. That’s the Bruce I’ve come to know and love and will honour with this film.”

It’s currently unknown when Deliver Me From Nowhere will be released.

23 rock bands named after movies:

Black Sabbath

Previously called Earth (and prior to that The Polka Tulk Blues Band), Black Sabbath named themselves after their own song 'Black Sabbath', which took its moniker from the 1963 horror anthology film of the same name starring the legendary Boris Karloff.

Black Sabbath (1963)

A poster for the 1963 Black Sabbath movie starring Boris Karloff.

Them

Northern Irish rockers Them, whose timeless anthem 'Gloria' launched Van Morrison's musical career, named themselves after the 1954 science fiction monster movie Them!

Them! (1954)

A poster for the 1954 horror movie Them!

White Zombie

In 1985, the then 20-year-old Rob Zombie – born Robert Cummings – named his band after the 1932 horror movie White Zombie starring Bela Lugosi. The highly influential movie is widely considered the first feature length zombie film, and it even inspired Cummings' stage name.

White Zombie (1932)

Bela Lugosi and a zombie in 1932's White Zombie.

Five Finger Death Punch

After watching Quentin Tarantino's 2004 martial arts classic Kill Bill: Volume 2, the Las Vegas metallers toyed with calling themselves Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique in homage to the character Pai Mei's fearsome killing technique. Although fascinated with the concept, former drummer Jeremy Spencer told Michigan Live in 2013: "That didn't sound cool. So, we changed it to Five Finger Death Punch."

Kill Bill 2 (2004)

Uma Thurman (The Bride / Beatrix Kiddo) and Gordon Liu (Pai Mei) in 2004's Kill Bill 2.

Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden bassist and founder Steve Harris came up with the band's name after watching the 1939 movie The Man in the Iron Mask, which featured an iron maiden torture device.

The Man in the Iron Mask (1939)

A still from the 1939 movie The Man in the Iron Mask.

Gojira

The French heavy metallers take their name from Gojira, the original Japanese name for Godzilla. The 1954 Japanese kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda is widely regarded as a classic of cinema.

Gojira (1954)

A poster for the 1954 movie Gojira – aka Godzilla.

My Bloody Valentine

It's widely reported that the influential Irish shoegaze band are named after the 1981 Canadian slasher film My Bloody Valentine. However, MBV vocalist and guitarist Kevin Shields claims that it was only a few years after they formed that they discovered they shared their moniker with a "really crap terrible Canadian film."

My Bloody Valentine (1981)

A still from the 1981 horror movie My Bloody Valentine.

Misfits

Glenn Danzig named his highly influential horror punk band after Marilyn Monroe's final movie, 1961's The Misfits.

The Misfits (1961)

Marilyn Monroe in 1961's The Misfits.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Canadian purveyors of apocalyptic post-rock, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, are named after the 1976 Japanese documentary film God Speed You! Black Emperor, directed by Mitsuo Yanagimachi. The film follows a group of motorcyclists called the Black Emperors.

God Speed You! Black Emperor (1976)

God Speed You! Black Emperor the movie (1976)

The Searchers

The Merseybeat group took their name from the epic Western film The Searchers, starring John Wayne and directed by John Ford.

The Searchers (1956)

John Wayne in 1956's The Searchers.

Mogwai

Scottish post rockers Mogwai are named after the ultra-cute little furry creatures in classic 1984 movie Gremlins, who turn into monstrous gremlins if you feed them past midnight.

Gremlins (1984)

The cute lead Mogwai called Gizmo in Gremlins.

Mudhoney

The first of three consecutive acts named after Russ Meyer movies, Seattle grunge pioneers Mudhoney took their moniker from Meyer's 1965 movie Mudhoney.

Mudhoney (1965)

A still from Russ Meyer's 1965 movie Mudhoney

Faster Pussycat

In 1985, a good three years before Mudhoney formed, Los Angeles hard rockers derived their name from the Russ Meyer's movie Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! about three go-go dancers who embark on a kidnapping and murder spree in the California desert.

Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965)

A still from Russ Meyer's 1965 movie Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

Motorpsycho

With Mudhoney and Faster Pussycat having already taking their monikers from Russ Meyer flicks, Norwegian psych-rockers Motorpyscho named themselves in homage to Meyer's ultra-violent 1965 film Motorpsycho.

Motorpsycho (1965)

A still from Russ Meyer's 1965 movie Motorpsycho

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

San Francisco alt-rockers Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are named after Marlon Brando's motorcycle club in the 1953 film The Wild One.

The Wild One (1953)

Marlon Brando and his Black Rebels Motorcycle Club in The Wild One (1953)

Atreyu

American metalcore band are named after the character Atreyu in Michael Ende's fantasy book The NeverEnding Story and its 1984 movie adaptation.

The NeverEnding Story (1984)

Atreyu in The NeverEnding Story (1984)

Bring Me The Horizon

Although not directly named after a movie or character, Bring Me The Horizon took their memorable moniker from a line spoken by Captain Jack Sparrow in the 2003 movie Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, says: "Now, bring me that horizon!"

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in the 2003 movie Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Billy Talent

Canadian rockers Billy Talent took inspiration for their band name from the character Billy Talent, played by Callum Keith Rennie, in the 1996 mockumentary Hard Core Logo.

Hard Core Logo (1996)

Callum Keith Rennie (Billy Talent) in Hard Core Logo.

They Might Be Giants

Brooklyn alt-rockers They Might Be Giants are named after the 1971 comedy mystery film of the same name starring George C. Scott and Joanne Woodward.

They Might Be Giants (1971)

The poster for 1971 movie They Might Be Giants.

Eppu Normaali

One of Finland's most popular rock bands, Eppu Normaali is a Finnish translation of "Abby Normal" from Mel Brooks' 1974 comedy horror movie Young Frankenstein.

Young Frankenstein (1974)

In Mel Brooks' 1974 comedy horror movie Young Frankenstein, the character Igor (pictured) confesses he took the monster's brain from someone called "Abby Normal."

The Damned

Although the gothic rockers haven't confirmed or denied it, it's reported that guitarist Brian James named the group after the 1969 historical drama movie The Damned.

The Damned movie (1969)

A still from 1969 movie The Damned.

Fine Young Cannibals

The Birmingham pop rockers, who scored chart hits with 'She Drives Me Crazy' and 'Suspicious Minds', are named after the 1960 film All the Fine Young Cannibals starring Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood.

All the Fine Young Cannibals (1960)

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood in All the Fine Young Cannibals (1960).

Duran Duran

Admittedly they're NOT rock (despite being 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees) but Duran Duran are named after Dr. Durand Durand, Irish actor Milo O'Shea's character from the 1968 sci-fi movie Barbarella.

Barbarella (1968)

Dr. Durand Durand in Barbarella (1968).

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