A spokeperson for William Hurt has confirmed the actor has pulled out of the lead role in the Gregg Allman biopic, ”Midnight Rider.”
The Los Angeles Times reports a representative for ICM Partners, the talent agency that represents Hurt, has released a statement saying, "I can confirm he's out of the movie."
Hurt's withdrawal from "Midnight Rider" raises doubts about whether producers Randall Miller and his wife Jody Savin can revive the controversial project.
The couple had planned to resume production of the film in L.A. in June, raising concerns among union officials and some local crew members, who questioned why filmmakers would proceed with the project after the death of 27-year-old Sarah Jones in February.
Friends and colleagues of Jones set up a Facebook page calling for crew to boycott "Midnight Rider" in the wake of the accident, which has sparked multiple federal and state investigations into possible negligence.
The camera assistant was killed and several other workers were injured by a freight train that collided into the crew on the first day of filming in Georgia. The tragedy prompted nationwide calls to improve safety on sets.
“Midnight Rider” tells the story of Gregg's journey from struggling artist through the formation and subsequent success of The Allman Brothers Band, which saw the musician succumb to the excesses of rock 'n' roll.
The film stars Tyson Ritter - the lead singer/songwriter of the All American Rejects – as a young Gregg Allman, with Hurt originally booked to play the present-day version of Allman, and Wyatt Russell as his brother Duane.
The issues surrounding “Midnight Rider” are just one of the challenges Allman has faced in 2014: in January, it was revealed that the Allman Brothers Band would cease ouring at the end of the year after 45 years together (recent comments made by Gregg are now suggesting that plan could change); in March, a bout of bronchitis forced Gregg to miss two shows during the group’s residency at New York’s Beacon Theatre, and the final four dates were eventually postponed; and news out of Australia is that the rocker pulled out of the final two dates of a solo tour in the country this week due to a wrist injury he suffered prior to the start of the trek.
See also:
Gregg Allman cuts Australian tour short due to wrist injury
VIDEO: Eric Church covers Allman Brothers classic at Gregg Allman tribute
Gregg Allman says Allman Brothers not breaking up
Allman Brothers to release 40th anniversary live DVD
Search The Allman Brothers at hennemusic
