ASBURY PARK, NJ \u2212 To portray Bruce Springsteen<\/a>, Jeremy Allen White<\/a> had to learn to walk, talk and wail<\/a> like one of rock\u2019s most inimitable icons.<\/p>\n But perhaps more importantly, he needed to capture the Boss\u2019 unbreakable bond with Jon Landau (Jeremy Strong), his manager and coproducer of roughly 50 years. Their relationship is central to the new movie \u201cSpringsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere<\/a>\u201d (in theaters Oct. 24<\/a>), which explores the cathartic creation of 1982\u2019s \u201cNebraska\u201d album.<\/p>\n Meeting Strong for the first time last year, \u201cwe were both so nervous,\u201d White recalls, seated in a back corner of famed music venue The Stone Pony, where Springsteen got his start. The actors were introduced at a screening of Donald Trump biopic \u201cThe Apprentice<\/a>,\u201d featuring Strong\u2019s Oscar-nominated turn as political puppet master Roy Cohn.<\/p>\n Join our Watch Party! <\/strong>Sign up to receive USA TODAY’s movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Jeremy Allen White, left, and Jeremy Strong at the New York Film Festival premiere of “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” on Sept. 28.<\/p>\n \u201cI played a different mentor to a different man,\u201d Strong says wryly. \u201cI\u2019ve admired Jeremy for a long time, but when you meet outside of the arena, as it were, it\u2019s always a bit strange. I remember saying, \u2018I know we\u2019re going to meet in this other universe soon and I\u2019ll see you there.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n But once they got to the set last fall, \u201cwe both knew immediately that we had a tacit connection that didn\u2019t require any discussion,\u201d Strong adds. \u201cIt just felt palpable.\u201d<\/p>\n Bruce Springsteen (Jeremy Allen White, left) leans on manager Jon Landau (Jeremy Strong) during a pivotal career moment in “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.”<\/p>\n \u201cDeliver Me From Nowhere\u201d shows a more introspective side of Springsteen, now 76, who was then coming off a string of hit singles including \u201cHungry Heart\u201d and \u201cBorn to Run.\u201d The label was eager for another radio-ready album, but Springsteen was burned out from touring and struggling with his mental health as he grappled with unconfronted childhood trauma. So with Landau’s encouragement, he decided to explore that space with the downbeat, acoustic “Nebraska.”<\/p>\n White, 34, recalls picking Springsteen\u2019s brain about that particular point in his life, which was considered a career-ending move by many in the industry. He met the New Jersey native after one of his concerts, sitting in his dressing room at London\u2019s Wembley Stadium.<\/p>\n Bruce Springsteen gets political: <\/strong>The singer brings out ‘weapon of choice’ for surprise performance at New York Film Festival<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 1<\/span> of 13<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n See the stars of “Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere<\/a>” and more celebrities, beginning with Jeremy Allen White and Bruce Springsteen, walking the red carpet for the film’s headline gala at the 69th BFI London Film Festival at The Royal Festival Hall on Oct. 15, 2025, in London.<\/p>\n The film traces the creation of the musician’s 1982 \u201cNebraska\u201d album.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI asked him, \u2018Why are you letting us make this film really?\u2019\u201d White recalls. \u201cHe was so honest. I\u2019d met him 20 minutes prior to this conversation and he said, \u2018I just felt I was an observer of my own life. I didn\u2019t feel present at all and it was one of the scariest moments of my life.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n For White, \u201cthat was a feeling I was familiar with,\u201d says the two-time Emmy winner, who shot to the top of Hollywood\u2019s A-list after FX\u2019s \u201cThe Bear.\u201d<\/a> \u201cThe idea of becoming more present in my life, and the fear of losing myself, was very close to me. Once he shared that with me, that let me know what kind of man he is. That was a real guiding light throughout the process, to know that we had this invisible tether.\u201d<\/p>\n Jeremy Allen White, left, and Bruce Springsteen at the movie’s London premiere on Oct. 15.<\/p>\n Springsteen and Landau, 78, visited the movie\u2019s set frequently, and both actors got to know them personally. Landau has always been described as \u201ca steady hand\u201d by people who know him best, which was helpful for the “Succession” star in understanding him.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has an immensity of knowledge and this big picture awareness,\u201d says Strong, 46. \u201cI think it was Bruce who said, \u2018This ain\u2019t a job. This ain\u2019t a business. This is a reason to live.\u2019 It was that for both of them, and it\u2019s that for Jeremy and I as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
Bruce Springsteen’s depression struggles inspired ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’<\/h2>\n
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See Jeremy Allen White and more celebrities on the Bruce Springsteen biopic red carpet<\/h2>\n
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Jeremy Allen White felt ‘so seen and taken care of’ by Jeremy Strong<\/h2>\n