I Saw the Light ( film ) - wikipedia I Saw the Light ( film ) I Saw the Light Theatrical release poster Directed by Marc Abraham Produced by Marc Abraham Aaron L. Gilbert Brett Ratner G. Marq Roswell Written by Marc Abraham Based on Hank Williams : The Biography by Colin Escott George Merritt William MacEwen Starring Tom Hiddleston Elizabeth Olsen Cherry Jones Bradley Whitford Maddie Hasson Wrenn Schmidt Music by Aaron Zigman Cinematography Dante Spinotti Edited by Alan Heim Production company Bron Studios CW Media Finance RatPac Entertainment Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics Release date September 11, 2015 ( 2015 - 09 - 11 ) ( TIFF ) March 25, 2016 ( 2016 - 03 - 25 ) ( United States ) Running time 123 minutes Country United States Language English Budget $13 million Box office $1.8 million I Saw the Light is a 2015 American biographical drama film directed, written, and produced by Marc Abraham, starring Tom Hiddleston as country music legend Hank Williams and Elizabeth Olsen as his first wife, Audrey Williams. It is based on the book Hank Williams : The Biography by Colin Escott, George Merritt, and William ( Bill ) MacEwen. It was screened in the Special Presentations section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. The film is a biographical dramatization of country and blues singer - songwriter Hank Williams, his life and rise to fame as one of country music 's most popular and influential artists. The title comes from the gospel song of the same name written and performed by Williams. The film was released on March 25, 2016, by Sony Pictures Classics. Contents 1 Premise 2 Cast 3 Production 3.1 Pre-production 3.2 Filming 4 Criticism and controversy 5 Soundtrack 5.1 Track listing 6 Release 6.1 Critical reception 7 References 8 External links Premise The film revolves around country music singer Hank Williams ' rise to fame and sudden death at the age of 29. Cast Tom Hiddleston as Hank Williams Elizabeth Olsen as Audrey Sheppard Williams, Hank 's wife, manager, and duet partner Cherry Jones as Lillie Skipper Williams, Hank 's mother Bradley Whitford as Fred Rose, co-owner of Acuff - Rose song publishing in Nashville, who produced Hank 's records and co-wrote several songs with Hank Maddie Hasson as Billie Jean, a 19 - year - old pursued by Hank after his divorce from Audrey and eventually becomes his second wife and widow. Wrenn Schmidt as Bobbie Jett, had a short relationship with Hank after his divorce from Audrey. She gave birth to their daughter, Jett Williams David Krumholtz as James Dolan, a New York journalist Josh Pais as Dore Schary, a movie director, producer and former head of MGM Studios James DuMont as WB Nolan, a music promoter and small - town mayor Casey Bond as Jerry Rivers Michael Rinne as Lum York, bass player in Hank 's band, Drifting Cowboys Joshua Brady as Sammy Pruett, lead guitarist in Hank 's band, Drifting Cowboys Wes Langlois as Don Helms, steel guitarist in Hank 's band, Drifting Cowboys Von Lewis as Ray Price, a Country singer and roommate of Hank Williams Fred Parker Jr. as Faron Young Rob Boltin as Frank Walker, President of Hank 's record label, MGM Records Production Pre-production Director Marc Abraham began developing the film in 2009 and adapted the screenplay himself. In June 2014, producers secured the rights to Williams ' music for the film after making a deal with Sony ATV. Aaron L. Gilbert with Bron Studios will produce alongside Brett Ratner 's production company RatPac Entertainment, G. Marq Roswell and Abraham. Creative Wealth Media Finance will finance the film. On 12 June 2014, British actor Tom Hiddleston who was set to play Hank Williams, posted an image of himself on his Twitter account, dressed as Williams with the title of the film as the caption. Hiddleston will sing his own music for the film, also taking on Williams ' southern accent. To prepare for the film and work on his singing and guitar playing, Hiddleston practiced with country singer Rodney Crowell. In July 2014, Crowell signed on to be the executive music producer for the film while Carter Little, who has worked with the Black Keys on The Man With the Iron Fists, signed on to serve as music supervisor. Crowell said of Hiddleston, `` After nearly a month spent collaborating with this gifted artist, I 'm as respectful of the man 's work ethic as I 'm mystified by his transformational skills. Without a doubt, the filmmakers chose the right actor for the job. '' At the 2014 Wheatland Music Festival, Hiddleston sang `` Move It on Over '' and `` Jambalaya ( On the Bayou ) '', promoting the film. Casting for the film for extras and additional actors begin in September 2014. Casting was done by Legacy Casting and Tracy Kilpatrick of The Casting Office. On September 12, Rolling Stone announced that Elizabeth Olsen would be playing Audrey Williams, Hank 's wife, manager, duet partner. Filming Principal photography took place in Shreveport, Louisiana, starting in October 2014 and ending in December 2014. Criticism and controversy Williams ' grandson, singer Hank Williams III, has publicly expressed his displeasure for Hiddleston 's singing skills. Soon after Hiddleston 's performance of `` Move It on Over '' at the Wheatland Music Festival, Hank III posted on Facebook, `` here is how you do it Tom, You got no moan or soul in your voice, '' along with a video of himself singing his grandfather 's hit. Hank III went on to critique Hiddleston 's role, saying `` To do a Hank Williams movie the way it should be done you need certain aspects in the mix to make right. It goes way beyond having an American to play the role of Hiram Hank Williams, Sr. for it to be somewhat natural, it needs to be an American from the South who has eaten, lived and breathed these kind of roles before to make more respectable movie on Hank Sr. '' On September 11, 2015, soon after Hiddleston posted a film clip on social media, Hank III made another statement on Facebook, saying that the film seemed to lack `` justice and real foundation. '' Conversely, Holly Williams, granddaughter of Hank Williams, Sr. and half - sister of Hank Williams III, praised Hiddleston 's performance, stating in an interview with Rolling Stone, `` Tom really put his whole heart and soul into it. He worked so hard to embody everything about Hank, all of the nuances and who Hank really was. Tom put all his passion into his performance. '' Soundtrack I Saw the Light ( Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ) Soundtrack album by Various artists Released March 25, 2016 ( 2016 - 03 - 25 ) Length 32 : 54 Label Legacy Recordings The soundtrack for I Saw the Light was released on March 25, 2016 by Legacy Recordings. Seven of the songs are performed by Tom Hiddleston and the Saddle Spring Boys. Track listing No. Title Artist Length 1. `` Hey Good Lookin ' '' Tom Hiddleston and the Saddle Spring Boys 2 : 49 2. `` Move It on Over '' Tom Hiddleston and the Saddle Spring Boys 2 : 18 3. `` Anytime '' Eddy Arnold 2 : 52 4. `` Field Hand Man '' The Delmore Brothers 2 : 58 5. `` Jambalaya '' Tom Hiddleston and the Saddle Spring Boys 2 : 47 6. `` The Tennessee Waltz '' Jo Stafford 2 : 25 7. `` My Bucket 's Got a Hole in It '' Tom Hiddleston and the Saddle Spring Boys 2 : 14 8. `` That 's What 's Knockin ' Me Out '' Jimmy Liggins 2 : 07 9. `` Santa Baby '' Eartha Kitt 3 : 25 10. `` Why Do n't You Love Me '' Tom Hiddleston and the Saddle Spring Boys 2 : 19 11. `` Please Do n't Let Me Love You '' George Morgan 2 : 36 12. `` Honky Tonkin ' '' Tom Hiddleston and the Saddle Spring Boys 2 : 41 13. `` Lovesick Blues '' ( Soundtrack Edit ) Emmett Miller 1 : 23 Total length : 32 : 54 Release The film was originally scheduled to be released on November 27, 2015, by Sony Pictures Classics. However, on October 16, the release date was pushed back to March 25, 2016. Critical reception I Saw the Light received mixed to negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 20 % score based on 131 reviews, with an average rating of 4.6 / 10. The site 's consensus states : `` I Saw the Light boasts a terrifically talented cast, but their performances are n't enough to enliven an unfocused biopic that never comes close to capturing its subject 's timeless appeal. '' Metacritic reports a 47 out of 100 rating based on 35 critics, indicating `` mixed or average reviews ''. Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of The A.V. Club criticized I Saw the Light for not having `` a spark of insight or psychology to it, '' and stated `` no character in the film ever comes across as more than an accent. '' Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave the film one of four stars, stating `` Not even a singin ', boozin ' Tom Hiddleston can save this tepid Hank Williams biopic from itself. '' References Jump up ^ `` I SAW THE LIGHT ( 15 ) ''. British Board of Film Classification. February 23, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016. Jump up ^ Newman, Melinda. `` Hank Williams Biopic ' I Saw the Light ' Is First Film to License Country Legend 's Music in 50 Years ''. Billboard. Missing or empty url = ( help ) ; access - date = requires url = ( help ) Jump up ^ `` I Saw the Light ( 2016 ) ''. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 4, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Sandra Bullock 's ' Our Brand Is Crisis, ' Robert Redford 's ' Truth ' to Premiere at Toronto ''. Variety. Retrieved 18 August 2015. ^ Jump up to : Hammond, Pete ( October 16, 2015 ). `` Oscar Casualty : Sony Pictures Classics Sees The Light, Moves Hank Williams Biopic To March ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved October 16, 2015. Jump up ^ Adam Chitwood ( June 13, 2014 ). `` Tom Hiddleston to Play Hank Williams in I SAW THE LIGHT ''. Collider. Retrieved June 16, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Sean Michaels ( June 13, 2014 ). `` Tom Hiddleston set to play country icon Hank Williams in new biopic ''. The Guardian. Retrieved June 16, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Jonathan Bernstein ( September 12, 2014 ). `` Elizabeth Olsen to Play Hank Williams ' Wife in Upcoming Movie ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 15, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Stephen L. Betts ( November 7, 2014 ). `` Bradley Whitford, Cherry Jones Cast in Upcoming Hank Williams Movie ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 16, 2014. Jump up ^ Jen Yamato ( October 2, 2014 ). `` Maddie Hasson Joins ' I Saw The Light ' ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved October 6, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Beville Dunkerley ( October 16, 2014 ). `` Hank Williams Movie Casts Four New Roles ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ Rebecca Ford ( October 15, 2014 ). `` Hank Williams Biopic ' I Saw the Light ' Rounds Out Cast ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Casey Bond The Actor ''. Casey Bond Official Website. Retrieved October 20, 2014. Currently, Casey is a part of the Main Cast in the Hank Williams biopic titled `` I SAW THE LIGHT. '' He will be playing the role of the legendary Jerry Rivers who was the fiddle player in Hank 's band, The Drifting Cowboys. ^ Jump up to : `` Recording soundtrack to upcoming Hank Williams biopic - I Saw the Light ''. Richard Bennett Facebook. October 1, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Hank Williams Biopic `` I Saw The Light '' Readies World Premier in Toronto -- New Details Revealed ``. www.savingcountrymusic.com. Retrieved 16 October 2015. Jump up ^ `` Fred Parker has been cast as Faron Young ''. Fred Parker Jr. Official Website. Archived from the original on October 19, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2014. Jump up ^ Michael Fleming ( August 10, 2009 ). `` Hank Williams biopic on track ''. Variety. Retrieved June 16, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Bruna Nessif ( June 12, 2014 ). `` Tom Hiddleston to Star as Country Legend Hank Williams in I Saw the Light ''. E !. Retrieved June 16, 2014. Jump up ^ Dave McNary ( June 12, 2014 ). `` Tom Hiddleston to Play Country Icon Hank Williams in Biopic ''. Variety. Retrieved June 16, 2014. Jump up ^ `` I Saw The Light ''. Tom Hiddleston Verified Twitter. June 12, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014. Jump up ^ James White ( June 12, 2014 ). `` Tom Hiddleston Says I Saw The Light ''. Empire Online. Retrieved June 16, 2014. Jump up ^ Matt Goldberg ( June 21, 2014 ). `` Tom Hiddleston Talks Playing Hank Williams in I SAW THE LIGHT ; Has Started Singing and Playing Every Day ''. Collider. Retrieved June 26, 2014. Jump up ^ Emily Williams ( July 25, 2014 ). `` Rodney Crowell Signs On As Music Producer For Hank Williams Biopic ''. American Songwriter. Retrieved July 30, 2014. Jump up ^ Gayle Thompson ( October 6, 2014 ). `` Rodney Crowell Praises Choice of Tom Hiddleston for Hank Williams Biopic ''. The Boot. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ Alexis Hauk ( September 7, 2014 ). `` Tom Hiddleston Performed at a Michigan Music Festival as Hank Williams ''. Time. Retrieved September 8, 2014. Jump up ^ Lucinda Holt ( September 9, 2014 ). `` Tom Hiddleston Practices His Best Hank Williams Ahead Of Biopic I Saw the Light ''. Screen Relish. Retrieved September 10, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Hank Williams Biopic ' I Saw the Light ' Open Casting Call for Speaking Roles ''. Project Casting. September 9, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Tom Hiddleston to star in Hank Williams biopic filming in Shreveport ''. Shreveport Times. July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014. Jump up ^ Mike Scott ( August 13, 2014 ). `` George Clooney, Sandra Bullock, Gerard Butler, Tom Hiddleston pack bags for Louisiana film projects ''. The Times - Picayune. NOLA Media Group. Retrieved August 18, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Hank Williams `` I Saw The Light '' Biopic Wraps Filming in Shreveport ``. Saving Country Music. December 15, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2015. Jump up ^ Gayle Thompson ( September 9, 2014 ). `` Tom Hiddleston Takes the Stage as Hank Williams, Hank III Critiques Performance ''. The Boot. Retrieved March 6, 2015. ^ Jump up to : Sasha Bogursky ( September 8, 2014 ). `` Hank3 says Tom Hiddleston has ' no soul ' when singing Hank Williams ' songs ''. Fox News. Retrieved March 6, 2015. Jump up ^ Kimberley Truong ( September 11, 2015 ). `` Tom Hiddleston croons as Hank Williams in the first clip from ' I Saw the Light ' ''. Retrieved September 27, 2015. Jump up ^ Hank Williams III ( September 11, 2015 ). `` When you see todays clip on Twitter... '' Facebook. Retrieved September 27, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Holly Williams Weighs In on Hank Williams Biopic ' I Saw the Light ' ''. Retrieved August 6, 2016. Jump up ^ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-tom-hiddlestons-move-it-on-over-from-i-saw-the-light-20160323 Jump up ^ https://www.bustle.com/articles/138194-tom-hiddlestons-i-saw-the-light-soundtrack-will-feature-lots-of-country-goodness Jump up ^ Dave McNary. `` ' I Saw the Light ' Release Date : Tom Hiddleston Film Set for Nov. 27 ''. Variety. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 01. Jump up ^ `` I Saw the Light ( 2016 ) ''. Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved May 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` I Saw the Light reviews ''. Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` I Saw The Light sucks the life out of Hank Williams ''. The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 4, 2016. Jump up ^ Travers, Peter ( March 24, 2016 ). `` ' I Saw the Light ' Movie Review ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 30, 2016. External links Official website I Saw the Light on IMDb I Saw the Light at Box Office Mojo I Saw the Light at Rotten Tomatoes I Saw the Light at Metacritic Marc Abraham Producer A Thousand Acres ( 1997 ) Playing God ( 1997 ) Trippin ' ( 1999 ) The Family Man ( 2000 ) Bring It On ( 2000 ) Spy Game ( 2001 ) The Emperor 's Club ( 2002 ) Tuck Everlasting ( 2002 ) The Rundown ( 2003 ) Bring It On Again ( 2004 ) Dawn of the Dead ( 2004 ) Children of Men ( 2006 ) Let 's Go to Prison ( 2006 ) Flash of Genius ( 2008 ) The Last Exorcism ( 2010 ) In Time ( 2011 ) The Thing ( 2011 ) The Man with the Iron Fists ( 2012 ) The Last Exorcism Part II ( 2013 ) RoboCop ( 2014 ) The Man with the Iron Fists 2 ( 2014 ) Director Flash of Genius ( 2008 ) I Saw the Light ( 2015 ) Related Eric Newman Strike Entertainment Beacon Pictures Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Saw_the_Light_(film)&oldid=838590134 '' Categories : 2015 films English - language films American films 2010s biographical films 2010s drama films American biographical films American drama films Biographical films about musicians Films about music and musicians Films based on actual events Films based on biographies Films produced by Marc Abraham Films shot in Louisiana Bron Studios films Sony Pictures Classics films Hidden categories : Pages using web citations with no URL Pages using citations with accessdate and no URL Use mdy dates from February 2016 Articles with hAudio microformats Album infoboxes lacking a cover Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch فارسی 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Basa Jawa Nederlands 日本 語 Українська Edit links This page was last edited on 28 April 2018, at 00 : 32. 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Question: who played hank williams in the movie i saw the light
Answer: Tom Hiddleston