#INTERVIEW: JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, JEREMY STRONG AND SCOTT COOPER

By Mr. Will Wong

One of this Fall’s most eagerly-anticipated films is none other than Scott Cooper‘s SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER US FROM NOWHERE. The Biopic actually began filming shortly after Cooper’s (Black Mass, Crazy Heart) father had passed away, and his father in fact had introduced him to Springsteen‘s acclaimed 1982 album NEBRASKA. Never before had the souls and hearts of blue collar workers ever been encapsulated so perfectly in music until this Album. Hence, it is poetic that this Film, which touches upon Bruce Springsteen reconciling his past and also the father-son-like relationship between manager Jon Landau and the icon himself, is ready to leave its mark in the world.

We are delighted sit-in on press conference with the Creators and lead Actors of SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER US FROM NOWHERE:

Jeremy Allen White (“Bruce Springsteen”)
Jeremy Strong (“Jon Landeau”)
Scott Cooper (Director)
Moderator: Warren Zanes, author of “Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska”

Triple Golden Globe and Emmy winner Jeremy Allen White talks about his approach in becoming Bruce Springsteen in this Film, and also filming in Colts Neck, New Jersey.

White: This was really about getting getting close to a man who was trying to find peace at home and in his creative process, searching for and finding inspiration. Once I started approaching Bruce Springsteen as man rather than a god, that’s when I found my footing. One of the other big moments – above the task of portraying a very well-known man – was learning to sing and play guitar as best as I can. When I was in Nashville at RCA, I felt a real closeness to Bruce and I’ve been lucky with a few characters I’ve played to have experienced this as we had this shared experience, since I really had to learn a skill. I got to be in a recording space singing words that aren’t mine – but learned – trying to make them my own. I had a real breakthrough in Nashville, a real kinship.

It all felt very sacred. l know the history of the rooms and town and for Bruce to have witnessed it all. it was great responsibility to tell this. Not just portraying a real person, but moments that happened… air that was breathed… moments that are real. There was something very fragile and delicate for me in performing some of these moments, especially in Colts Neck and the recording process. And Bruce’s moments alone. There was a lot of fragility in him as well, for both of us. There’s a real softness in trying to recapture these moments.

Director Scott Cooper talks about the great honour of collaborating with his personal hero, Bruce Springsteen on this Film.

Cooper: It was daunting. Bruce was so giving, so open and checked-in frequently. I never wanted to make a film only about Bruce Springsteen, I wanted to make a film about a man who happens to be Bruce Springsteen. The Film really touches upon his unresolved trauma and Bruce was so open to it, telling me things he’s never told anyone, things he’s never disclosed. It felt like a great bill of honour and love from Bruce. Aside from the Film, he showed me such generosity that goes well beyond friendship. I’m so grateful for the permission to have such an honest piece of work. This entire collaboration from Bruce to these guys, to the crew was one of highlights of my life.

Golden Globe and three-time Emmy winner Jeremy Strong talks about building a father-son-like bond with Jeremy Allen White in their portrayals of Landau and Springsteen, respectively.

Strong: I understand the dynamic between them existed in the early days with their arms around eachother and smiles on their faces. I could feel that love, connection, and bond. I think in terms of planning how to do that, you don’t think about the camera being there. You just enter into something and the rest comes out, so we didn’t have to talk about that or do anything. It’s just there.

White:: Yes, it was clear and we didn’t need to talk about it before. It was clear in the Book, the Script and over the years. There was trust that we’d been in our own corners, understanding what we needed to understand, that when we came together, the love, loyalty, responsibility to one another was important, but that came out naturally.

Strong: Jon was like a garden and Bruce was like an exotic flower. He had a sensitivity to the conditions and environment. I had to ask, ‘What does he need to flourish and grow?’. So I had a sense of that protection towards the story. You don’t perform today, you just do it. Does that make sense?

I see a fellow Actor who’s up against something tremendous, so all I had to do is allow part of myself to feel real care towards him and that helps me understand something about Jon the way Jeremy allowed me to. That’s how you create that dynamic.

Cooper comments on what lasting themes he hopes the audience will take away from SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER US FROM NOWHERE.

Cooper: I always endeavored to explore themes that are somewhat more difficult. Addiction. Racism. Mental health and illness. Reconnection with family estrangement. All these are things we are grappling with and I like to think intellectually about things. What I’m most concerned with is emotion, how they’re gonna feel and relate. I want to make a film that I would want to see on a Friday night and two, a film the audience can see themselves in.

What is heartening is the power of Cinema – when some people approach you on the street and say ‘Thank you, Scott. Thank you for showing us that two estranged men can come together… my father never told me he loved me, he never told me he was proud of me… my son suffers form mental illness…. I hope he can see this Film.'”.

20th Century Studios Canada release SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER US FROM NOWHERE in theatres October 24, 2025.

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Studios Canada)