On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, actor Jeremy Allen White and rock icon Bruce Springsteen recently joined the host to talk about the much-anticipated biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere. The conversation gave fans a rare peek behind the curtain — into how the movie came together, how White prepared, and how Springsteen feels about being portrayed on screen.
What the Film Is About
Deliver Me From Nowhere is based on Warren Zanes’ 2023 book of the same name.
The story zooms in on a crucial moment in Springsteen’s life: the making of his 1982 album Nebraska. Unlike many biopics that sweep through an artist’s entire life, this film focuses on one deeply introspective period — when Springsteen withdrew from the spotlight (“hibernated,” as the narrative puts it) to record alone, wrestling with his rising fame and inner conflicts.
Springsteen recorded Nebraska on a simple 4-track recorder in his bedroom — far from a glitzy studio.
The music is spare, raw, and haunting. The film seeks to explore not just how those songs were made, but why — the emotional and creative tensions behind them.
Casting & Production
Playing Springsteen is Jeremy Allen White, best known for The Bear.
The role is ambitious — not only acting like Springsteen, but performing some of his music. In fact, a clip of White singing “Born to Run” has already been released in the film’s trailer, and many have praised how closely his voice resembles the original.
The trailer even mixes White’s vocals with Springsteen’s to highlight the blend of performance and authenticity.
White worked with a vocal coach, Eric Vetro, to prepare for the role.
Other cast members include:
Jeremy Strong as Jon Landau (Springsteen’s longtime manager)
Paul Walter Hauser as engineer Mike Batlan
Stephen Graham as Bruce’s father, Douglas “Dutch” Springsteen
Odessa Young, Gaby Hoffmann, Marc Maron, David Krumholtz in other key roles
Filming began in late 2024 and wrapped in early 2025. Locations included parts of New York and New Jersey, with Springsteen himself making surprise visits to the set in places meaningful to his past.
What Happened on Jimmy Kimmel
During the Kimmel show, White and Springsteen shared some candid moments:
A clip of White singing “Born to Run” was shown, and Springsteen admitted with playful humility:
“When I saw that clip, I thought, gee, when did I get that good looking?”
He also confessed it felt strange to see someone else playing him, especially at first.
But Springsteen was quick to praise White’s work:
“He captured what I do particularly on stage … the singing was so good.”
When Kimmel pushed on how close White’s portrayal felt to the “real him,” Springsteen responded that White’s approach was not about imitation but internal truth — “a performance that comes from the inside out.”
In a humorous twist, Springsteen said he felt a bit guilty being on the set while White was singing. “Here’s the guy not only trying to play me, but he’s got to play me while my stupid ass is sitting in the chair.”
White admitted he was nervous at first but gradually regarded Springsteen’s presence as a kind of permission and support.
All in all, their rapport during the interview—and their cooperation in making the film—suggest a level of trust and respect that might make Deliver Me From Nowhere feel more authentic than many biopics do.
Release & Early Reception
The film’s theatrical release is set for October 24, 2025.
It premiered earlier at the Telluride Film Festival on August 29, 2025.
Critics at the premiere were already praising White’s performance. Deadline called him “utterly convincing in every count,” saying he “gets to the essence of the man without copying him.”
The Wrap praised how his singing is blended with Springsteen’s to enhance realism.
Review aggregators like Rotten Tomatoes point out that while many biopics rely on big spectacle and crowd-pleasing moments, this film leans hard into internal drama and emotional fragility — the quieter, less glamorous side of creating music under pressure.
Why This Film Is Interesting
It doesn’t attempt to tell everything about Springsteen’s life. Instead, it zooms in on one pivotal moment, giving space for emotion, nuance, and inner conflict.
The star himself, Springsteen, had a degree of involvement but also gave the actors breathing room—especially by staying away during highly emotional scenes so they could perform freely.
White’s performance is being hailed as a breakthrough — not just for capturing how Springsteen sounds, but how he feels.
For fans of music, of character studies, or of stories about artists’ struggles with identity and success, this film promises something more personal than your typical rock biopic.