Jeremy Allen White, best known for his Emmy-winning role in The Bear, is stepping into the boots of a rock legend. In the first trailer for Deliver Me From Nowhere, White transforms into Bruce Springsteen, capturing the grit, soul, and sound of The Boss during the recording of his raw, haunting 1982 album Nebraska.
White appears playing guitar and harmonica, crooning Springsteen’s title track with an eerily accurate rasp. The trailer also teases him performing Born to Run, offering fans a full arc of Springsteen’s sound—from stripped-down storytelling to anthemic rock.
The biopic, directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart), focuses on a pivotal and deeply personal chapter in Springsteen’s life. In 1982, rather than follow up the pop success of Hungry Heart with another commercial hit, Springsteen shocked his label by recording Nebraska solo, on a four-track recorder in his bedroom. The album told somber tales of working-class America, murderers, and loneliness—cementing his status as more than just a stadium rock star.
Jeremy Strong plays longtime Springsteen manager Jon Landau, shown in the trailer butting heads with Bruce over commercial expectations. “This is not about the charts. This is about Bruce Springsteen,” Strong’s Landau insists, as Bruce retreats further into his creative cocoon.
The film captures Springsteen’s lonely writing process, moments of isolation, and the toll of sudden fame. At one point, White’s Bruce whispers: “I’m trying to find something real in all the noise,” underscoring the movie’s introspective tone.
Director Scott Cooper recreates Nebraska’s famously bleak album cover, and viewers get visual throwbacks to Springsteen’s actual recording sessions. The film will also feature a shift in tone as it ends with sweat-soaked, high-energy shots of Bruce performing with the E Street Band, providing a much-needed exhale from the emotional weight.
Springsteen himself has visited the set, reportedly praising White’s performance and vocal delivery. “He’s got an interpretation of me that I think the fans will deeply recognise,” the music legend said.
British actor Stephen Graham portrays Springsteen’s father, Dutch. According to Graham, Bruce personally texted him a thank-you message for bringing his late father back to life on screen. “He said, ‘I felt like I saw him today’—I cried reading it,” Graham admitted.
Other cast members include Odessa Young as Springsteen’s love interest and Paul Walter Hauser as his guitar tech. The film is set to release in October 2025, aligning with awards season. Initially slated to compete with the Michael Jackson biopic, that project has now been delayed.
Fans have reacted with cautious optimism to the trailer. While some note that White doesn’t look like Springsteen, many are praising his performance for capturing Bruce’s essence. “That last shot on stage is what sold me,” one fan commented.
Springsteen’s Nebraska may not have topped the charts, but its legacy runs deep. Critics hailed it as one of the boldest albums ever made by a mainstream artist, stripping back the polish to reveal the emotional heart of the American experience.
With Deliver Me From Nowhere, White and Cooper aim to do the same on screen.
