Last week Alan Rickman signed up to play CBGB founder Hilly Kristal, shortly followed by Rupert Grint as one of the musicians who helped make the New York club famous, Now director Randall Miller has added a new list of actors to the film, including Malin Akerman, Stana Katic, Joel David Moore, Julian Acosta, Richard De Klerk, Josh Zuckerman, John Holstrom, Ryan Hurst and Estelle Harris.
The film is a biopic of Kristal, who in the late 1970s sought to create a venue for county, bluegrass and blues music (the CBGB of the name) in New York. However, after acts playing that music were tough to find, Kristal allowed local performers to play. That decision was precipitous, as the club soon became ground zero for rock & roll as well as punk, launching the careers of performers such as The Ramones, Blondie and Patti Smith.
Variety reports that Akerman is set to play the iconic lead singer of Blondie, Debbie Harry. Julian Acosta will be Johnny Ramone, with Joel David Moore as his brother, Joey. THR adds that Stana Katic is set to play producer Genya Raven, who was also the lead singer of Goldie & The Gingerbreads. De Klerk will be CBGB soundman Taxi, Hurst is Mad Mountain and Harris will be Kristal’s mother, Bertha.
Shooting starts next month.
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