Hank Williams Biopic Begins Filming This Week

A biopic about country music legend Hank Williams, titled I Saw the Light, begins production this week in Louisiana. The Avengers’ Tom Hiddleston is taking on the lead role and Elizabeth Olsen will portray the singer’s wife, Audrey Mae Williams.

The film’s cast also recently expanded. David Krumholtz, Josh Pais, James DuMont, and Wrenn Schmidt will be joining Hiddleston and Olsen on the set this week.

Schmidt is set to play Bobbie Jett, a woman who had a relationship with Williams after his divorce from Audrey and who gave birth to Williams’ daughter five days after his death. Schmidt’s acting credits include roles in Boardwalk Empire and The Americans.

Krumholtz, who can currently be seen in The Judge, will play a New York journalist who has a tough interview with the country star. Krumholtz previously starred in the drama series Numb3rs.

Pais will take on the role of Dore Schary, a former president of MGM Studios who wanted to turn Williams into a movie star. Pais’ acting resume includes roles on The Good Wife, Ray Donovan and Law & Order: SVU.

DuMont, who appeared in the James Brown biopic Get On Up and Dallas Buyers Club, won the role of music promoter and small-town mayor WB Nolan who must force an intoxicated Williams to perform.

Marc Abraham is directing the film, which will depict the rise of Williams’ stardom and his struggles with alcoholism and drug abuse, which led to his untimely death. Abraham also wrote the screenplay for I Saw the Light, which is based on the biography written by Colin Escott.