I Saw the Light Marc Abraham, USA World Premiere

This film tells the story of legendary country western singer Hank Williams, who in his brief life created one of the greatest bodies of work in American music. The film chronicles his meteoric rise to fame and its ultimately tragic effect on his health and personal life. Based on Colin Escott’s award-winning biography. Starring Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Olsen, Bradley Whitford, David Krumholtz Cherry Jones and Maddie Hasson.

I SAW THE LIGHT will be screened as part of the ‘Special Presentations’ lineup at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. The Festival will be held 10–20 September 2015.

VARIETY — Sony Pictures Classics has given an awards-season release date of Nov. 27 for “I Saw the Light,” starring Tom Hiddleston in the story of iconic country-Western singer Hank Williams.

Written and directed by Marc Abraham, the movie is based on Colin Escott’s biography, with Elizabeth Olsen, Bradley Whitford, David Krumholtz and Cherry Jones also starring.

RatPac Entertainment’s Brett Ratner and Bron Studios’ Aaron L. Gilbert produced the film, with G. Marq Roswell and Abraham. James Packer of RatPac Entertainment and Jason Cloth of Creative Wealth Media Finance exec produced. Dante Spinotti is the cinematographer.

Williams was born in 1923 in Alabama and broke out in the post-World War II era with the song “Move It on Over.” Among his hits are “I Saw the Light,” “Lost Highway,” “Jambalaya (on the Bayou),” “Ramblin’ Man,” “You Win Again” and “Lovesick Blues.” He suffered from spina bifida and died at age 29 of heart failure.

DEADLINE — Sony Pictures Classics said it has acquired worldwide rights to the Hank Williams biopic I Saw The Light, the movie that stars Tom Hiddleston as the iconic country singer. Marc Abraham wrote and directed the pic that chronicles Williams meteoric rise to fame and its ultimately tragic effect on his health and personal life. Elizabeth Olsen, Bradley Whitford, David Krumholtz and Cherry Jones co-star. No release date was announced.

RatPac Entertainment’s Brett Ratner and Bron Studios’ Aaron L. Gilbert produced the film with G. Marq Roswell and Abraham, who wrote the script based on the Colin Escott biography. RatPac’s James Packerand Jason Cloth of Creative Wealth Media Finance executive produced. Sony Classics, which had a label-record 18 Oscar nominations this year, said it has been “actively talking with Brett Ratner about becoming involved” with I Saw The Light for a long time.”

The Avengers star Hiddleston, a Brit, was tapped for the role of the Country & Western legend last summer and sings such Williams standards as “Your Cheatin’ Heart”, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and “Hey Good Lookin’ ” after the film’s backers made a deal with Sony ATV to secure rights to the Williams music catalog. The singer died at age 29 of heart failure.

DEADLINE — Maddie Hasson has been cast in I Saw The Light, writer-director Marc Abraham’s biopic about country music legend Hank Williams. She will play Billie Jean, a 19-year-old who pursued by Williams (Tom Hiddleston) after his divorce from Audrey (Elizabeth Olsen). She eventually becomes his second wife — and his widow.

Hasson recently wrapped the indie pic A Light Beneath Their Feet and starred on ABC Family’s Twisted. She is repped by UTA, the Beddingfield Company and Coast to Coast Talent Group.

Congrats Maddie!!!