Marvel’s The Avengers and Only Lovers Left Alive star Tom Hiddleston has, according to Deadline, taken the lead role in I Saw the Light, an upcoming biopic of legendary country singer Hank Williams. Marc Abraham (Flash of Genius) is set to both write and direct, adapting Colin Escott’s “Hank Williams: The Biography.”
Williams ranks high among the most influential country music singer-songwriters, and he lived a life as hard as any character in a country song. After growing up dirt poor in Alabama during the Depression, Williams skyrocketed to fame with 11 No. 1 hits, including classics “Cold, Cold Heart,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”
Williams also suffered from spina bifida, which led him to turn to alcohol and morphine for pain relief. Haunted by demons and bad habits, Williams died in 1953 at age 29.
RatPac Entertainment, Bron Studios, and Creative Wealth Media Finance are co-producing and co-funding the project, which aims shoot this October in Louisiana.
Aaron L. Gilbert will produce with Brett Ratner, G. Marq Rosell and Abraham. Ratner’s partner, James Packer, will be exec producer.
