New Springsteen Movie, Filmed In Morris Co., Coming To Theaters Soon

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — The Boss is coming to the big screen, and fans may want to keep an eye out for some familiar set pieces featured in the upcoming film "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere."

According to the International Movie Database (IMDb), most of the film was shot in Bruce Springsteen’s home state of New Jersey, including Morris County.

The film, based on the book by rockstar and writer Warren Zanes, follows a young Springsteen creating his 1982 album "Nebraska." While the album title may sound like a midwestern folk anthology (which it sometimes is), it was recorded in Colts Neck, NJ.

Portraying The Boss is Jeremy Allen White, known mostly for his TV work in "The Bear," "Shameless," and the A24 movie "The Iron Claw." White, sporting brown contacts to hide his baby blues, did his own guitar playing and singing to depict the NJ rock and roll legend.

According to IMDb, several exterior street scenes were filmed in Rockaway Borough, with other scenes filmed in Denville, Chatham, and Harding Township. Springsteen himself was often on the film set, and was even spotted meeting his on-screen dad, Douglas Springsteen (portrayed by Stephen Graham), in Rockaway last year.

Other NJ filming locations included Asbury Park, The Meadowlands, West Orange, and more.

Early synopses show that the film doesn’t focus on Springsteen’s rise to fame with the legendary E Street Band, but rather highlights his struggles with depression at that point in his career, and the album those struggles created.

“This is not about the charts… This is about Bruce Springsteen, and these are the songs that he wants to work on right now,” says Jeremy Strong in the trailer, portraying Springsteen’s manager Jon Landau. “When Bruce was little, he had a hole in the floor of his bedroom… Bruce is a repairman, and what he’s doing with this album is he’s repairing that hole in his floor. He’s repairing that hole in himself.

“And once he’s done that, he’s going to repair the entire world,” he says.

"Nebraska," Springsteen’s sixth album, features songs including "Atlantic City," "Johnny 99," "Highway Patrolman," and of course the title track. The album was initially recorded to be a demo, with plans to re-record the tracks alongside the E Street Band. However, the 40-minute album was released as is with Springsteen by himself.

Viewers itching to hear more popular Springsteen songs in the film don’t need to fret, because White’s Springsteen is seen at the end of the film’s trailer performing “Born To Run,” with an impressively similar tone to the original rock legend.

“Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” was written and directed by Scott Cooper. It’s scheduled to come to theaters on Oct. 24.