Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson will play a married couple who form a Neil Diamond tribute band in Craig Brewer’s upcoming musical drama “Song Sung Blue.”
From Focus Features and Davis Entertainment, the film began production on Oct. 14. Rounding out the cast are Michael Imperioli, Fisher Stevens and Jim Belushi, alongside Ella Anderson, King Princess, Mustafa Shakir, and Hudson Hilbert Hensley.
“Song Sung Blue,” based on Greg Kohs’ 2008 documentary of the same name, follows the true story of Milwaukee couple Mike and Claire Sardina, down-on-their-luck musicians who became local icons by performing as “Lightning & Thunder.” The film also borrows its name from the 1972 Diamond song.
Producing alongside writer-director Brewer are John Davis and John Fox for Davis Entertainment. Erika Hampson and Kohs are executive producers.
Focus developed the film and holds worldwide rights, while Universal Pictures International will handle international distribution.
Both Jackman and Hudson have been showing off their singing chops lately. The “Deadpool & Wolverine” hero recently announced a 12-concert residency at Radio City Music Hall, in which he’ll showcase songs from “The Boy From Oz,” The Greatest Showman” and “The Music Man.” And Hudson signed with Virgin Records this year ahead of her debut album “Glorious,” which proves that she could have credibly played a star and not just a groupie in “Almost Famous,” as Variety‘s Chris Willman observed.
Focus Features’ upcoming slate includes the Pharrell Williams LEGO biopic “Piece by Piece,” Robert Eggers’ reimagining of “Nosferatu” and Edward Berger’s papal thriller “Conclave.”
From Variety US