Jeremy Strong on channelling Springsteen's right-hand man

I FIND music biopics fascinating. Condensing a legacy into a feature film is no easy feat. However, Hollywood has delivered some gems over the years, like Walk the Line, Elvis, Ray, Bohemian Rhapsody, La Vie En Rose and 8 Mile, to name a few.

- DEBASHINE THANGEVELO

Now, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere has been released on the big screen. Helmed by Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen, it is written and directed by Scott Cooper.

The film, which is based on Warren Zanes' 2023 book of the same name, chronicles Springsteen's journey in the buildup to the release of his 1982 album, Nebraska.

A key character in the story is Jon Landau, Springsteen's manager and record producer, and Jeremy Strong slips into those shoes with ease.

A seasoned actor with numerous accolades under his belt, Strong is known for immersing himself fully into the character he plays. This role is no different.

Interestingly, Springsteen and Landau were also on set to help guide the actors portraying them.

At a recent press junket, he offered profound insight into the film, his role and Allen White's sheer brilliance in channelling a living legend.

Having access to Springsteen and Landau on set fuelled the creativity in Strong more than anything else.

He added, "I welcomed their presence there. I love them both, deeply. We all became quite close in the making of this. There's not really room in your psychological eyeline for anyone on this set.

"Your only job is to be invested in a given imaginary circumstance, and what's at stake in the scene. So they kind of disappear. And so in a sense, it was neutral for me having them here. And, at the same time, it's kind of like putting your feet to the fire a little bit, which I like to feel.