From The Wrap’s William Hurt to Play Gregg Allman in Biopic ‘Midnight Riderâ€:

Oscar winner William Hurt has been cast as Gregg Allman in the biopic “Midnight Rider,” which is being produced by Randall Miller and Jody Savin of Unclaimed Freight Productions.

All-American Rejects singer/songwriter Tyson Ritter will play young Gregg Allman, while Hurt will portray the singer in present day. Wyatt Russell (“22 Jump Street”) co-stars as Duane Allman.

Also Read: William Hurtâ€s Journey to Portland Stage

“I am a tremendous fan of Williamâ€s work. I canâ€t wait to work with him,” said Miller, who will direct from a script he co-wrote with Savin.

William Hurt has had an incredible career and has remained busy for decades, but he’s never matched — who could? — the string of amazing films from 1983 to 1987: Body Heat, The Big Chill, Gorky Park, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Children of a Lesser God, and Broadcast News. I mean, wow.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Midnight Rider will begin filming in Savannah at Meddin Studios in February.

That should be another nice boost for filmmaking in Savannah.

Here’s “Just Another Rider” recorded at Elevated Basement here in Savannah:

Now the filmmakers are moving forward with another movie about the music industry. From The Hollywood Reporter’s “CBGB” Filmmakers to Tell Story of Famed Caribou Records (Exclusive):

After wrapping their rock feature CBGB, Randall Miller and Jody Savin are hoping to keep the music going with a new music-themed project, this one on famed recording studio Caribou Records.

Miller and Savin will write the script with Miller directing the project. It will produce via their Unclaimed Freight banner along with Brad Rosenberger, their music business partner.

Titled Caribou Records, the movie will aim to tell the story of the music studio run by James William Guercio in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

Elton John’s album Caribou was named for the studio. Other artists who recorded there included Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Joe Walsh, Chicago, and The Beach Boys.

There were hopes that Unclaimed Freight’s next project would be The Drummer, a story about The Beach Boys’ drummer Dennis Wilson that seemed likely to film in Savannah.

Here’s a shot I took of Johnny Galecki as Terry Ork during last summer’s filming of CBGB:

Click here for more info on that photo and on Terry Ork.