There’s a lot to like with the news that production has begun for Deliver Me from Nowhere, and normally I’d be quite unsure about a Bruce Springsteen biopic, but with the Boss himself involved and this first-rate cast, I’m very interesting to witness the tale they can tell – and man, he’s one hell of a storyteller!

Based on the genuinely fascinating book by Warren Zanes, with the same title, the film is set to take us through the making of Springsteen’s 1982 ethereal and earthy Nebraska album – which just happens to be the record that got me into the great man and everything beyond.

Written and Directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart), the film stars man of the moment Jeremy Allen White as the visionary musician as he embarks on an emotional journey to record Nebraska. If you’ve seen The Bear, and if you haven’t sort that out as soon as you can, then I’ve got faith beyond for Allen White in this situation. And, for the rest of the cast, well, there’s also Jeremy Strong as Springsteen’s long-time mentor and manager, Jon Landau, plus Paul Walter Hauser as guitar tech Mike Batlan, Odessa Young as a young Faye, a formative love interest in Springsteen’s life. And then you’ve got the excellent Stephen Graham plays Springsteen’s father…. and Johnny Cannizzaro joins the cast as the legendary E Street Band man Stevie Van Zandt. 

Cooper had this to say:

“Beginning production on this film is an incredibly humbling and thrilling journey. Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Nebraska’ has profoundly shaped my artistic vision. The album’s raw, unvarnished portrayal of life’s trials and resilience resonates deeply with me. Our film aims to capture that same spirit, bringing Warren Zanes’ compelling narrative of Bruce’s life to the screen with authenticity and hope, honouring Bruce’s legacy in a transformative cinematic experience. It has been a great pleasure to collaborate with Bruce and Jon [Landau] as I tell their story, and their creative energy fuels every part of this journey. As well, I’m excited to reunite with my friend, David Greenbaum [president, Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios], as he embarks on his new role at Disney, adding another layer of inspiration to this project.”

Following 1981’s The River Tour, this was a key time in Springsteen’s life and career, and it’s certainly regarding as a landmark moment, and an inspiration – and then some – to a whole generation of artists, from all walks of art forms. Recorded on a 4-track recorder in his New Jersey space, it’s a raw, haunted acoustic record populated by lost souls searching for a reason to believe. 

For all the right reasons, filming for the film will take mainly take place in locations in New Jersey and New York, with additional production in Los Angeles. It’s gonna need that ground-level!

Deliver Me from Nowhere is aiming for a 2025 release, but I wonder if we’ll see it early 2026 just because.