Foo Fighters' Taylor Hawkins to star as Iggy Pop in “CBGB” rock flick

PanARMENIAN.Net - The upcoming rock 'n' roll film CBGB has added several cast members, including Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who will play rock icon Iggy Pop; The Big Bang Theory's Johnny Galecki as music manager Terry Ork and The Borgias actress Mickey Sumner as Patti Smith, The Hollywood Reporter said.

The film is a look at New York's punk rock music scene and is centered on CBGB, the seminal club where acts such as Talking Heads, Ramones and Television got their start and honed their craft. The club, which was owned by Hilly Kristal, closed in 2008.

Also joining the cast are Steven Schub (Chicago 8) as Dee Dee Ramone; Evan Alex Cole (She’s Outta My League) as Richard Hell; Peter Vack (I Just Want My Pants Back) as Legs McNeil; and Kerry Bische (Red State) as Mary Harron.

CBGB, which features a previously announced cast of Alan Rickman, Malin Akerman, Joel David Moore, Stana Katic and Rupert Grint, is being directed by Randall Miller (Bottle Shock), who co-wrote the script with Jody Savin.

Miller and Savin’s Unclaimed Freight Productions will produce. Former senior vp of Warner/Chappell Music-turned-producer Brad Rosenberger will also produce. Kristal’s daughter, Lisa Kristal Burgman, who controls her late father's estate, is on board as a co-producer of the film.

The story centers on Kristal (Rickman) and his efforts to turn a tiny club into a groundbreaking rock 'n' roll venue where the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers played. The venue started out as a home to country, bluegrass and blues musicians, but when those acts became tough to book, Kristal turned to local artists.

Production is slated to begin June 25 in Savannah, Ga., before moving to New York.