Best known for his reptilian portrayal of Loki in The Avengers and the Thor movies, as well as for uncanny impressions of some of his co-stars like Chris Evans and Owen Wilson, Tom Hiddleston is about to go the biopic route. The London native is attached to star as country and western icon Hank Williams in I Saw the Light, for heavyweight Hollywood producer Marc Abraham.
Hiddleston certainly looks the part, and plans to do all of his own singing for the role as well. So fans of the actor and his real-life counterpart should be ready to swoon during renditions of “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” That said, hopefully the genre’s most devout fans are fine that a British actor is taking the helm of an American songbird.
I Saw the Light will tell the story of the rise of the Hall of Fame musician, as well as the substance abuse that ultimately brought Williams down (he died of heart failure at 29). It will be based on a biography of the country crooner from author Colin Escott.
Abraham, who made his directorial debut with 2008’s Flash of Genius starring Greg Kinnear, also penned the script. The producers of the film, which include Abraham, Brett Ratner and G. Marq Rosell, got the go-ahead for the biographical drama after they made a deal to purchase Williams’ music catalog.
Considering how much fanboy love Hiddleston gets for his turn as Loki, this could be the role that catapults the actor into a contending leading man with a broader audience.
I Saw The Light will begin production in October, likely after Hiddleston wraps up work on the sci-fi thriller High Rise for director Ben Wheatley. We’ll be sure to keep you posted when we hear more.
