Tom Hiddleston to Star as Country Legend Hank Williams in I Saw the Light

I Saw the Light will be directed by Marc Abraham from his screenplay based on Colin Escott's award-winning biography

By Bruna Nessif Jun 13, 2014 2:43 AMTags
Tom Hiddleston, Hank WilliamsFred Duval/FilmMagic, AP Photo

Tom Hiddleston is going country, y'all!

E! News has confirmed that the famous British actor has been chosen to portray iconic country crooner Hank Williams in the biopic I Saw the Light, which will chronicle Williams' triumphant rise to fame and its ultimately tragic effect on his personal life and his health (Williams died at the young age of 29 due to heart failure).

Additionally, Hiddleston will actually be lending his own vocals for the film! The hot ginger celeb will sing from the entire Williams catalog—including hits "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Hey Good Lookin'" and "Your Cheatin' Heart"—after the rights were secured through a deal with Sony ATV.

I Saw the Light will be directed by Marc Abraham from his screenplay based on Colin Escott's award-winning biography. Aaron L. Gilbert will produce alongside Brett Ratner, G. Marq Roswell and Abraham. James Packer will serve as executive producer for RatPac Entertainment.

Fans know Tom from his work in Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris, Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive, Steven Spielberg's War House and, of course, his portrayal of Loki in Marvel Studio's Thor, The Avengers and Thor: The Dark World.

Hiddleston recently wrapped Guillermo del Toro's Crimson Peak for Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures and will soon start work on Ben Wheatley's High-Rise.