Bruce Springsteen Is Already Talking About a ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’ Sequel, Says Director Scott Cooper

During the opening night of AFI Fest, filmmaker Scott Cooper revealed that Bruce Springsteen is open to the possibility of a sequel to their latest collaboration, "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere." Cooper cited the precedent set by director Sam Mendes, who is producing four distinct theatrical films—one for each member of The Beatles—all slated to debut in 2028. "If four Beatles movies are possible, then a few Bruce Springsteen films certainly are," Cooper remarked, indicating that the rock icon’s life offers a wealth of material for further cinematic exploration.

The current film centers on the creation of Springsteen’s haunting 1982 album "Nebraska," which emerged from a time of deep personal turmoil. It delves into the singer’s confrontation with depression and lingering childhood trauma. Jeremy Allen White stars as Springsteen, with Odessa Young playing his girlfriend and Jeremy Strong earning critical praise for his turn as Jon Landau—Springsteen’s longtime manager and close collaborator. Landau, a former music critic, famously signed Springsteen to his management roster in the 1970s and helped shape his career for decades. Cooper noted that he and Springsteen have already spoken about future projects, adding, "He seems very at ease having this difficult period of his life portrayed. You’d have to ask him directly, but I believe he’s willing to go further."

Cooper expressed particular excitement when questioned about adapting other famous episodes, such as the making of the Brian De Palma-directed "Dancing in the Dark" music video, which famously featured a young Courteney Cox plucked from the crowd to dance with Springsteen. "That’s a fantastic question," he responded, laughing about the casting challenge. "I’m not sure if Courteney Cox has children, but if she does, maybe one of them could step in." Cox, widely recognized for her role as Monica Geller across ten seasons of the landmark series "Friends," is in fact the mother of a 21-year-old daughter, Coco, from her previous marriage to actor David Arquette.

On the red carpet, Jeremy Strong—who earned an Academy Award nomination last year for his unsettling performance as Roy Cohn in "The Apprentice"—addressed the early Oscar buzz for his latest role. He confessed that such speculation still feels strange to him, then connected his own artistic dedication to Springsteen’s famously intense commitment. "What I learn from Bruce is that you have to give 10,000 percent to everything you do," Strong reflected. "He performs each concert as if it’s his final night at Madison Square Garden, and I approach every role as though it’s the last one I’ll ever play." This philosophy of total immersion, he stressed, lies at the heart of his creative process. The night wrapped on a high note as Bruce Springsteen surprised the audience with a two-song live performance following the screening.