- Jeremy Strong is set to portray Jon Landau, Bruce Springsteen’s longtime manager, in the upcoming biopic, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.
- Unlike his previous roles, Strong had direct on-set access to the real person he was playing, whom he referred to as an “oracle.”
- The film, co-starring Jeremy Allen White as Springsteen, centers on the creation of the iconic 1981 album, Nebraska.
- Strong described his immersive acting process as being like a “magpie,” constantly scavenging for character details.
A New Challenge for an Intense Actor
Jeremy Strong, celebrated for his profound on-screen transformations, is once again stepping into the shoes of a real-life figure. After earning an Oscar nomination for his venomous portrayal of Roy Cohn in The Apprentice and with a role as a cannier Mark Zuckerberg in Aaron Sorkin’s upcoming sequel to The Social Network on the horizon, Strong is now tackling the world of rock and roll management.
In the new biopic, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, Strong plays Jon Landau, the influential manager and producer for Bruce Springsteen. The film chronicles a pivotal moment in the musician’s life: the recording of his stark and personal 1981 album, Nebraska. Playing opposite Strong is Jeremy Allen White, who takes on the role of “The Boss,” Bruce Springsteen.
An Unprecedented Resource: The “Oracle” on Set
For an actor renowned for his meticulous and often isolating research process—poring over public footage, home videos, and any available records—this project offered a unique advantage. The real Jon Landau was a consistent presence on the film’s set, providing an unparalleled resource.
“It’s like having an oracle that you can go directly to,” Strong explained during a recent interview. The opportunity to interact with and question the man he was portraying was a departure from his usual method of building a character from historical archives. “I spent time with Jon,” Strong said. “I drilled him with questions.” Even the legendary Bruce Springsteen himself was on set to watch the story unfold.
The “Magpie” Method
Strong’s co-stars have taken note of his famously immersive technique. Stephen Graham, the Emmy-winning actor who plays Springsteen’s father in flashbacks, described Strong as being “like a magpie” in his approach to gathering material for his role. It’s a comparison Strong readily accepts.
“And he’s right,” Strong confirmed, noting that both the bird and the actor are “just collecting, scavenging for anything. And you don’t even know, really, what you’re looking for.” This relentless search for authentic details is a hallmark of his performances, and having direct access to Landau provided a treasure trove of invaluable insights.
While known for a series of heavy and intense roles, this unique on-set dynamic seems to have provided a sense of relief for the actor, allowing him to build his character through direct connection rather than solitary study.
Image Referance: https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2025/10/jeremy-strong-deliver-me-from-nowhere-interview-bruce-springsteen/684665/