Hugh Jackman & Kate Hudson’s Neil Diamond Musical is Based on a Surprising True Story
What’s more incredible about the new trailer for Song Sung Blue: Hugh Jackman‘s fabulous hair, or the fact that this Neil Diamond jukebox musical is based on a true story?
In the preview released Sept. 9, Jackman portrays Mike Sardina, a Milwaukee man down on his luck. “I’m not a songwriter. I’m not a sex symbol. I just want to entertain people,” he tells Claire (Kate Hudson), who says how she doesn’t want to be a hairdresser for the rest of her life. “I want to sing, I want to dance,” she tells Mike.
And together, they hatch a plan to achieve their dreams. After seeing how Mike bears a resemblance to the “Cracklin’ Rosie” singer, he and Claire christen themselves as “Thunder and Lightning.” As Claire puts it, Mike isn’t a “Neil Diamond impersonator, but a “Neil Diamond interpreter.” From there, they find hometown success, but not without some professional struggles and personal drama.
And yes, this jukebox musical—which also stars Fisher Stevens (Short Circuit, Hackers), Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos), Mustafa Shakir (Luke Cage), Ella Anderson, and King Princess—is based on a true story.
Specifically, it’s based on Greg Kohs‘ 2008 documentary of the same name. Koh’s film detailed how Mike and Claire became local music icons as Lightning (Mike, covering Neil Diamond songs) and Thunder (singing Patsy Cline).
“I first encountered Lightning & Thunder in the early ’90s while directing a documentary for Harley-Davidson,” Koh writes on the doc’s official website (warning: spoilers ahead).
“There they were, perched atop a sticky outdoor bar at the Wisconsin State Fair grounds, belting out Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ to a crowd of leather-clad bikers dancing their chaps off. It gave me goosebumps, and I felt compelled to share them with others.” The director had a surprising reason for choosing his subjects: “I simply wanted to help them succeed. I hoped that if I ever finished the film and people watched it, Lightning & Thunder would benefit from more bookings, bigger gigs, and a wider reputation. Deep down, I was hoping they’d catch the attention of Letterman or Conan, or maybe even Neil Diamond himself. By introducing Lightning & Thunder to a broader audience, I believed I could help make their lives a little more comfortable.”
The musical, Hollywood adaptation of Song Sung Blue, hits theaters on Dec. 25.
Puzzler '80s Comedy Classics
Vol 1, Issue 6
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