Are you a fan of Gregg Allman and The Allman Brothers Band? Then I have some potentially great news for you this morning. THR has learned William Hurt will star as the musician in the biopic MIDNIGHT RIDER. The film is an adaptation of Allman's memoir My Cross to Bear, and will be directed by Randall Miller (BOTTLE SHOCK, CBGB.) The biopic will actually feature two Gregg Allmans: Hurt will portray him when he was older and trying to stay sober, and The All-American Rejects lead singer Tyson Ritter will play a young Allman. Wyatt Russell (COWBOYS & ALIENS, THIS IS 40) has also signed on to play Duane Allman, Gregg's brother.
I really liked Randall Miller's CBGB, and I think he could do an excellent job with MIDNIGHT RIDER. Some might not like the idea of Tyson Ritter playing a young Gregg Allman, but we should at least give the guy a chance. Yes, he's in a shitty pop-rock band, but does that mean he'll suck as an actor? Of course not, and maybe he'll surprise the hell out of us with his performance.
Filming for MIDNIGHT RIDER is scheduled to begin sometime in February, and a release date hasn't been announced at this time.
