June Carter Cash Biopic; JD Souther on “Nashville” TV Pilot
Jewel will play June Carter Cash.
News from Nashville meets Hollywood:
• Lifetime is making a June Carter Cash biopic based on John Carter Cash’s book about his mother, Anchored in Love: An Intimate Portrait of June Carter Cash. Jewel will play the lead and Johnny Cash will be played by Matt Ross (American Horror Story, Big Love). Filming will commence early this summer in Atlanta, with the movie slated to premiere later this year. The June Carter Cash Story (working title) follows June from early childhood in the rural mountains of Virginia through her rise to fame with The Carter Family. It covers June’s first two marriages, life with her daughters and only son, her role in saving Johnny Cash’s life during his battles with substance abuse, and her faith in God.
Allison Anders (Southland, Grace of My Heart, Gas, Food Lodging) is set to direct from a screenplay by Oscar®-nominated writer Richard Friedenberg (Lifetime’s Of Two Minds, A River Runs Through It). The June Carter Cash Story will be produced by Asylum Entertainment, with Emmy®-winning Steven Michaels and Jonathan Koch, and John Carter Cash executive producing.
• JD Souther is the latest addition to the cast of upcoming ABC-TV pilot Nashville. He told The Tennessean he plays legendary producer and songwriter “Watty Whitem,” known for his work with lead character “Rayna James,” the country singer struggling to stay on top played by Connie Britton (ABC’s Friday Night Lights, FX’s American Horror Story). Hayden Panettiere, who first rose to prominence on ABC’s Heros, will play rising star “Juliette Barnes.” More here.
