Jeremy Allen White’s Bruce Springsteen Movie ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’ to Open AFI Fest

Scott Cooper’s Bruce Springsteen film, Deliver Me From Nowhere, has been accepted at AFI Fest.

The 20th Century Studios release, which casts Jeremy Allen White as the iconic rocker, will open the 39th edition of the Los Angeles-based film festival on Oct. 22. The showing comes slightly ahead of the film hitting theaters on Oct. 24.

Deliver Me From Nowhere, adapted from Warren Zanes’ 2023 best-selling book of the same name, is set in the early ’80s at a key time in Springsteen’s career as he was recording the personal, acoustic songs that would make up his Nebraska album while also working on demos for Born in the U.S.A. and navigating his growing fame. (The film’s full title is Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.)

Cooper directs from his own script. In addition to White, Deliver Me From Nowhere stars Jeremy Strong as Springsteen’s longtime manager, Jon Landau, alongside Marc Maron, Stephen Graham, Gaby Hoffman, Paul Walter Hauser, David Krumholtz and Odessa Young. Cooper, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Eric Robinson and Scott Stuber produce, with Tracey London and Zanes executive producing.

“AFI Fest is the stage and the screens where the world’s stories come together in Hollywood,” said AFI president and CEO Bob Gazzale. “To open with Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere honors the global impact of an American icon and the true artistry it takes to tell his tale.”

Added Cooper: “AFI has always championed bold, meaningful storytelling, and I’m grateful to be part of that tradition. While Bruce’s roots will forever be in New Jersey, Los Angeles played a profound role in shaping his artistic voice. I want to thank Bob Gazzale and everyone at AFI for this extraordinary privilege.”

The film is also scheduled to have its New York Film Festival premiere on Sept. 28, with Cooper, White, Strong, Young and Springsteen himself all expected to be in attendance.

AFI Fest, presented by Canva, will take place Oct. 22–26 at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatres. It will feature a selection of red carpet premiere screenings, special screenings, world cinema, documentaries and short films.