Randall Miller, who filmed CBGB based on the infamous New York City nightclub, and wife Jody Savin cast the two leads for the film adaptation of Gregg Allman’s memoir My Cross to Bear. The film with the working title Midnight Rider cast All American Rejects frontman Tyson Ritter as Gregg and actor Wyatt Russell as Duane.
According to The Hollywood Reporter Ritter and Russell will be performing vocals as well as all musical instruments themselves. Of course, while this is no stretch for Ritter, a working and successful musician, Russell, with famous parents Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, before getting in the family business was a professional hockey player. Even with that though, Savin stated that he nailed his audition.
“He blew us away with his total embodiment of the rock icon and his uncanny slide guitar chops,” Savin said of Russell’s audition.
Variety reported that the story will focus on Gregg Allman’s early struggles forming the Allman Brothers Band and the success they had through the 1970’s as well as Allman’s life toward current times at 64.
With all the success the Allman Brother’s Band had, an untimely motorcycle accident took Duane Allman’s life in 1971. He was, and still is, regarded as one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time.
Production is set to start February 2014.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
