Having recruited Alan Rickman to play CBGB founder Hilly Kristal in his film about the rise of the legendary New York music venue, director Randall Miller is adding to the line-up, bringing in Malin Akerman, Rupert Grint, Stana Katic, Joel David Moore, Julian Acosta, Richard De Klerk, Josh Zuckerman, John Holstrom, Ryan Hurst and Estelle Harris.
Akerman is taking on possibly the most famous name, since she’ll be playing Debbie Harry, lead singer of Blondie and one of the most successful talents to get their start at the club. Though right up there in terms of fame is Johnny Ramone, played by Acosta, with Moore as co-Ramone Joey.
Grint, meanwhile, will be Cheetah Chrome, the Dead Boys’ guitarist and part of the punk movement that was a big part of CBGB’s historic rise. Katic is on to play producer Genya Raven, who also happened to be the lead singer of Goldie & The Gingerbreads, reportedly the first all-female band to snag a recording contract.
De Klerk will be CBGB soundman Taxi, Hurst is Mad Mountain and Harris will be Kristal’s mother, Bertha.
Miller co-wrote the script with Jody Savin and is starting shooting in Georgia next month before heading to New York.