Bruce Springsteen scouted ‘Deliver Me From…
Before the cameras rolled on “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” the Boss took one more experience down reminiscence lane – actually.
Author and music historian Warren Zanes, who served as an government producer on the newly launched Bruce Springsteen biopic, revealed that the “Born to Run” singer led director Scott Cooper and a small crew on an expedition up and down the Jersey Shore before filming was formally underway.
“Before shooting started, we did a day of location scouting. Bruce brought out his Ford Bronco,” Zanes, 60, told The Post. “It was amazing.”
Bruce Springsteen took one more experience down reminiscence lane before capturing started on his newly launched biopic, “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.” ©twentieth Century Studios/Courtesy Everett Collection
Springsteen and author Warren Zanes on the set of “Deliver Me From Nowhere” in Freehold, NJ, on Jan. 10, 2025. GC Images
“So he was driving, Scott Cooper was riding shotgun, and I was in the back with Stefania [Cella], the set designer,” Zanes continued. “We drove to Freehold, we went to all of his houses, we went to Federici’s for lunch and had pizza.”
Of course, the highway led straight to the small seaside metropolis that helped form Springsteen’s legendary music profession more than other place in America.
Although the “Thunder Road” rocker, 76, grew up in Freehold, NJ, during the ’50s and ’60s, he acquired his start taking part in golf equipment and venues around Asbury Park. His other Jersey Shore haunts included Colts Neck, Red Bank and Long Branch.
Southside Johnny, Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt onstage at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, on May 30, 1976. Redferns
Levon Helm of The Band and Springsteen performing at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, on Aug. 22, 1987. Getty Images
A common exterior view of the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, on May seventh, 2023. Getty Images
The unique environment of the Stone Pony was recreated for “Deliver Me From Nowhere” during filming in Asbury Park, NJ, on Dec. 12, 2024. GC Images
One venue in explicit was the enduring Stony Pony, which still stands today and helped launch the musical careers of other NJ legends like Jon Bon Jovi, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, and This, That and the Others.
“We went to Asbury,” Zanes said. “You’re walking with Bruce Springsteen down the boardwalk toward [Convention Hall], and there’s no security.”
“It’s just Bruce and tourists there to see the landmarks associated with their favorite artist,” Zanes continued with a chortle, “who suddenly pick up on the fact that there he is!”
A glance at the enduring Asbury Park Boardwalk circa 1978. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
A glance at the well-known Casino situated on the south facet of the Asbury Park Boardwalk circa 1978. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
People strolling along the boardwalk exterior Asbury Park’s well-known Convention Hall on May 28, 2023. Getty Images
A more latest look at the Asbury Park Boardwalk with Convention Hall and the Atlantic Ocean in the background. Moment Editorial/Getty Images
The new twentieth Century Studios function, directed by “Crazy Heart” filmmaker Cooper, dramatizes the making of one of Springsteen’s most defining albums, 1982’s “Nebraska.”
Starring Jeremy Allen White, 34, as Springsteen and Jeremy Strong, 46, as Springsteen’s longtime supervisor, Jon Landau, the movie also offers a deep dive into the “River” singer’s mental state while on the cusp of changing into a global famous person.
Zanes’s 2023 e book, “Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska,” served as the film’s source materials. He was close by Cooper’s facet as the complete project developed, including when the director first met the Boss and the Boss’ spouse of 34 years, Patti Scialfa.
Zanes wrote the e book, “Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska,” which the new Springsteen biopic was sourced from.
Zanes, who also served as an government producer on “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” shared some behind-the-scenes moments from the making of the new biopic. Page Six/New York Post
Zanes launched director Scott Cooper to Springsteen and Springsteen’s spouse, Patti Scialfa. Page Six/New York Post
“The first time I brought Scott Cooper to meet Bruce and Jon [Landau] was down on the Jersey Shore,” Zanes said. “Bruce and Patti rented a house right there on the beach.”
“We all sat in the sun and had lunch, and it was a three-hour meeting,” he continued. “The first 90 minutes, it was just talking about movies. And then, the last 90 minutes were about this movie.”
By the time the three-hour assembly completed, the “Greetings from Asbury Park” artist was absolutely on board. Springsteen beforehand mentioned why he finally agreed to a biopic during the 2025 Telluride Film Festival in August.
Zanes and Springsteen on the set of “Deliver Me From Nowhere” in Rockaway, NJ, on Nov. 1, 2024. GC Images
Springsteen, Cooper and Zanes on the set of “Deliver Me From Nowhere” in Rockaway, NJ, on Nov. 1, 2024. GC Images
Stephen and Springsteen on the set of “Deliver Me From Nowhere” in Rockaway, NJ, on Nov. 1, 2024. GC Images
“It was an amazing session,” the “Revolutions in Sound” writer shared. “At the end of it, Bruce said, ‘I wanna do this.’”
From there, the nice vibes never stopped.
“There was plenty of fun,” Zanes continued. “I remember lunches just sitting, a group of us at a table, everybody eating lunch, and Jon and Bruce just start telling stories, and it’s like nothing else.”
Springsteen and his supervisor, Jon Landau, during periods for Springsteen’s 1981 album “The River” in New York City on March 15, 1980. Getty Images
Springsteen and Landau at Raleigh Studios in Los Angeles, California, on May 5, 2019. Getty Images
“Everyone is pinching themselves, because it’s both hysterical – these are two very funny people – and it’s also a backstage view like no other,” the New York Times bestseller added. “There was a lot of that. Like, you didn’t want to miss lunch.”
It was that bond between Springsteen and Landau, 78, that Zanes said translated completely onto the big screen through White and Strong’s performances.
“The thing that surprised me, I’d been able to see Bruce and Jon interact,” the music biographer explained. “There’s a subtlety to that relationship. You know how old it is, and you know what those guys have been through together.”
Springsteen and Landau during periods for “The River” in New York City on March 15, 1980. Getty Images
Springsteen and Landau attend the premiere of “Deliver Me from Nowhere” during the New York Film Festival in New York City on Sept. 28, 2025. FilmMagic
“Then you see Jon make Bruce laugh,” he continued, “and it tells you so much about those two men.”
Zanes said he noticed that same chemistry come alive between the actors the first time they filmed together.
“Watching Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong on camera for the first time – it was before they even called action,” he recalled. “Jeremy Strong started doing this stuff that was off-script, but in character, that was making Jeremy Allen White laugh. And I was like: ‘That’s Bruce and Jon.’”
Jeremy Allen White as Springsteen and Jeremy Strong as Landau in “Deliver Me From Nowhere.” ©twentieth Century Studios/Courtesy Everett Collection
Strong as Landau in “Deliver Me From Nowhere.” ©twentieth Century Studios/Courtesy Everett Collection
The government producer added that the expertise deepened his own understanding of Springsteen, even after assembly and interviewing the “Born in the USA” singer for his 2023 e book and to discuss the new biopic.
“I told Jeremy Allen White when I saw him just the other week, I said that watching this, and watching him, I felt like I understood Bruce better,” Zanes shared.
But when capturing on “Deliver Me From Nowhere” kicked off in earnest, and when it got here time to actually get to work, Springsteen took the filmmaking course of as critically as ever and gave Cooper, 55, the space he needed to lead.
White as Springsteen in “Deliver Me From Nowhere.” ©twentieth Century Studios/Courtesy Everett Collection
Springsteen performing at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ, on April 2, 2011. WireImage
“You know, Bruce is a guy, if you think about the number of studios he’s been in trying to get a record made, and struggling to do so, with a lot of people around him,” Zanes explained. “He knows what it’s like to have one’s creative space respected.”
“He knows what it’s like to have people stepping into one’s creative space at a time when you don’t need that,” Zanes added. “He was so respectful of Scott Cooper’s space.”
However, that doesn’t imply the “Atlantic City” crooner wasn’t concerned in the method or didn’t converse up when he had a word or thought.
White as Springsteen in “Deliver Me From Nowhere.” ©twentieth Century Studios/Courtesy Everett Collection
Springsteen performing at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, on Sept. 14, 2024. Getty Images
“He sat close to Scott, but he let Scott really be the one directing, in the truest sense of the word,” Zanes recalled. “So if there was some moment of direct intervention with Bruce, it was more like you’d see Bruce and Scott talking a little ways away over there. It was done with a lot of grace.”
The Boss lent his insight into the story itself as effectively, sharing particulars that had never even made it into Zanes’ unique e book.
“He also added some things,” Zanes revealed. “Although the character of Faye [Romano] is kind of a composite, he said there was somebody he was seeing at that time, and he started talking about her.”
Landau, Springsteen and Springsteen’s then-girlfriend, Karen Darvin, at a yard social gathering in Red Bank, NJ, in Sept. 1975. Getty Images
White as Springsteen in the newly launched Springsteen biopic. ©twentieth Century Studios/Courtesy Everett Collection
Odessa Young portrays Faye in “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” Springsteen’s love curiosity and a mixture of a number of ladies the “State Trooper” singer knew in real life when he was writing and recording “Nebraska.”
In the movie, White’s Springsteen takes Faye on a date to Asbury Park that options many of the landmarks the “Johnny 99” rocker introduced Cooper, Zanes and Cella during their Jersey Shore scouting expedition.
White as the Boss in the new Springsteen biopic. ©twentieth Century Studios/Courtesy Everett Collection
White as Springsteen in “Deliver Me From Nowhere.” ©twentieth Century Studios/Courtesy Everett Collection
White in “Deliver Me From Nowhere.” ©twentieth Century Studios/Courtesy Everett Collection
While “Deliver Me From Nowhere” facilities on the creation of “Nebraska” and the musician’s wrestle with both depression and superstardom at the time, it also focuses on Springsteen’s troubled relationship with his father.
“He also told us about the trip when his mom asked him to go find his father, who was in downtown LA and had been put in the police station,” Zanes shared. “Even Jon didn’t know that story.”
“Also, the scene of his father saying, ‘Sit on my lap.’ That is such a key moment in the movie,” Zanes added. “These are things that weren’t in the book, and they weren’t in the first script.”
Strong, Landau, Springsteen, Cooper and White attend the New York Film Festival Spotlight Gala in New York City on Sept. 28, 2025. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for twentieth Century Studios
As for the movie itself, the manager producer thinks Springsteen would have been shocked if told back in the early 80s that “Nebraska” and its creation could be the story Hollywood selected to adapt into a film.
“Bruce Springsteen didn’t make this record thinking that 40-plus years later, 20th Century Studios would be making a feature about the making of it,” Zanes said.
“If you could time-travel and go to Bruce at 32 and say, ‘Hey, that record you just made? There’s gonna be a major feature film about you and what you did in that bedroom,’ he’d look at you and say: ‘You’re a crazy motherf–ker!’”
“Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” is now in theaters.
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