SONG SUNG BLUE : In Production

[jo]

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Oct 14, 2024 9:00am PT

Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson to Star in ‘Song Sung Blue’ Musical Film About Neil Diamond Tribute Band


By Ethan Shanfeld

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Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson
Getty Images

Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson will play a married couple who form a Neil Diamond tribute band in Craig Brewer’s upcoming musical drama “Song Sung Blue.”

From Focus Features and Davis Entertainment, the film began production on Oct. 14. Rounding out the cast are Michael Imperioli, Fisher Stevens and Jim Belushi, alongside Ella Anderson, King Princess, Mustafa Shakir, and Hudson Hilbert Hensley.

“Song Sung Blue,” based on Greg Kohs’ 2008 documentary of the same name, follows the true story of Milwaukee couple Mike and Claire Sardina, down-on-their-luck musicians who became local icons by performing as “Lightning & Thunder.” The film also borrows its name from the 1972 Diamond song.


Producing alongside writer-director Brewer are John Davis and John Fox for Davis Entertainment. Erika Hampson and Kohs are executive producers.


Focus developed the film and holds worldwide rights, while Universal Pictures International will handle international distribution.

Both Jackman and Hudson have been showing off their singing chops lately. The “Deadpool & Wolverine” hero recently announced a 12-concert residency at Radio City Music Hall, in which he’ll showcase songs from “The Boy From Oz,” The Greatest Showman” and “The Music Man.” And Hudson signed with Virgin Records this year ahead of her debut album “Glorious,” which proves that she could have credibly played a star and not just a groupie in “Almost Famous,” as Variety‘s Chris Willman observed.

[jo]

The have opened a Page on IMDB -- but there are no details yet!

www.imdb.com/title/tt30343021/

[jo]

What could be going for this movie -

*It was developed by FOCUS FEATURES, a trusted award-winning indie house, whose parent link is UNIVERSAL PICTURES.

Focus Features will hold worldwide distribution rights while Universal will handle international distribution.

*There is fondness and nostalgia for Neil Diamond's music.

*It may be a musical but I think there is also a dramatic element to it. It is described as " a musical drama".


Jo

[jo]

Is Hugh Jackman singing this song in the movie --


www.facebook.com/watch/?mibextid=xfxF2i&v=552063734089913&rdid=xEE9dUprD0vjYgIe


www.threads.net/@hjsarmy/post/C_8yAiCo_BE?hl=en

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Neil Diamond singing SONG SUNG BLUE --

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It seems there was a 2008 documentary of the same name telling about the story of the couple Thunder & Lightning Mike & Claire Sardinia). The movie is going to be inspired by that documentary but developed by Focus Features & Davis Entertainment --

SONG SUNG BLUE is the alternately inspiring and tragic love story of Lightning & Thunder, a homegrown Milwaukee husband & wife singing duo who pay tribute to the music of Neil Diamond. For Mike and Claire Sardina, aka Lightning & Thunder, dreams are the fuel and music the engine of life. SONG SUNG BLUE goes behind the curtain with this brave couple, from their humble beginnings over 20 years ago to the threshold of fame, from disaster to rebirth through to the final chapters in the lives of these authentic American dreamers.

[jo]

Take a look at the very impressive award-winning record of Focus Features --

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_Features

[jo]

This review of the DOCUMENTARY ( on which the film adaptation by Focus Features/Davis Entertainment) will be based was written by Roger Ebert himself!

It will give us an idea of what the storyline is all about. Of course we should expect changes for the movie script.

www.rogerebert.com/reviews/song-sung-blue-2008


Someone ( an actor and filmaker) wrote on "X"that he has seen parts of the script - and that it will surprise film lovers beause it is 'VERY SPECIAL'

Jo

[pebbles]

Simply cannot take all the HJ news bits I've seen the theselast two days...

[njr]

Could Hudson Hilbert Hensley be Shuler’s son?

Nancy

[jo]

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[jo]

An interview with Claire Sardinia with a Milwaukee paper. It looks like the love story will also be played up in the movie itself!

Milwaukee's "Thunder" shares more about new film with Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson
Lightning & Thunder were a married couple and a popular Neil Diamond/Patsy Cline tribute act. Their love story - both beautiful and tragic - is currently in production in Hollywood.

Molly Snyder
By Molly Snyder
Senior Writer
Published Oct 22, 2024 at 3:01 PM

Production has started on a Hollywood film starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson based on real-life Milwaukee husband-and-wife Mike and Claire Sardina. For many years, the couple performed at Wisconsin State Fair, Summerfest and more as the Neil Diamond/Patsy Cline/ABBA/Blondie tribute act “Lightning & Thunder.”

Their professional and personal story of love and music was first documented in “Song Sung Blue,” a documentary by Greg Kohs that came out in 2008. Now, Universal Pictures is taking the extraordinary love story to the next level.

Mike – aka “Lightning” – passed away in 2006, but Claire – aka “Thunder” – is still very much alive and finding the Hollywood attention “so, so surreal.”

OnMilwaukee had the chance to chat with Claire and find out more about the film, her feelings about it and her relationship with Mike.

OnMilwaukee: When did you first find out a Hollywood movie about your life was in the works?

Claire: I was contacted during the pandemic, so 2020, maybe 2021. Greg Kohs, the director of the documentary, was the first person who told us it's going to happen. Craig Brewer, the director of the movie, contacted me too.

What was your reaction when you first heard this news?

I was like “get out of here. You have got to be kidding me.” It was such a surprise. My daughter, Rachel Cartwright, got involved as my spokesperson.

How have you been involved in the process so far?

There have been interviews. I’ve answered a lot of questions. I also read a script, but this was a while ago and I’m sure it’s been amended. The process has been slow. It went dormant for a while because of the strikes in Hollywood. But production started on Monday (Oct. 14). I do believe we will all have the opportunity to help advise them to help them portray the roles better. There is talk of us going (to Hollywood) to work with the actual cast. I’m wide open for that experience. Totally on board.


How do you feel about the choice of actors – Kate Hudson to play you and Hugh Jackman to play Lightning?

As for Hugh Jackman – it’s an extreme honor Mr. Wolverine himself is going to be playing Lightning. And I am honored to know that Kate Hudson is playing me. I’m not a spring chicken anymore, but people have been saying they can see a resemblance between us. Or maybe they’re just being nice. In any case, I think they did a really good job picking the actors.

Are you happy with the compensation so far?

Yes, I am. And there will be more.

Were you always a musical person?

When I was a baby, I’d rock back and forth to music while I was in my high chair. And always in rhythm. I was about three years old when I started singing. I was raised very strict Catholic, and I went to Messmer High School. I was in musicals, swing choir and in plays. Later in life, after high school, I took vocal lessons.

When did your relationship start with Lightning?

On April 11, 1989 we had our first business meeting at Ma Fischer’s. That’s when we started our business. We were married to other people when we first met. We were married at Wisconsin State Fair 1994 in front of huge number of people. The years with Lightning was never work. It was unadulterated fun and the most wonderful time of my life.

lightning and thunder
Is it true you guys played with Pearl Jam?

Yes. In 1995 we performed “Forever in Blue Jeans” with Pearl Jam at the Marcus Amphitheater (American Family Stage). This really catapulted our business. We started getting so many gigs, many in Chicago.


In 1999, you lost your leg in a tragic accident. Can you share more about that?

I was in front of my house, doing some yard work. All the news stories say I was gardening, but I wasn’t actually gardening, just in my front yard. Our house was on East Howard and Clement. An 80-year-old man was driving, and he first hit a parked car and then pushed down on the accelerator instead of the brake and drove onto my lawn. There was no time to think. If you’ve heard of that slow motion thing where your life flashes before your eyes, it was kind of like that. After the crash, I was in shock. I couldn’t see anything but I could hear Lightning crying and the flight for life. I’m told that a woman came up and tied something around my leg, stopping the blood flow, or I wouldn’t be speaking to you right now. She literally saved my life. She’s an angel to me and it gave me the chance to raise my children and be with Lightning for more years.

How are you doing these days?

I can now dance after all these years and I can still sing. I sing karaoke and with bands and friends. I’m very proud of my achievements after all these years. I know he is with me.

Are you comfortable talking about Lightning’s passing?

Yes. It was in 2006. He got up from our bed and kind of lost hit footing. He fell backwards and hit his head on a dresser drawer. He hit it with such force, he broke the drawer. I knew he needed to see a doctor, but he was a stubborn man and he refused. He didn’t want to cancel our gig in Madison. He sang “Sweet Caroline” during the 7th inning of the Madison Mallard’s baseball game, and on the way home, he started to feel nauseous and disoriented. We made it to the hospital. He had hemorrhaging in his brain and he never woke up. We kept him on life support until his daughter could make it to the hospital. I never got to say my goodbyes. He was my soulmate. The time we spent together – 17 years – it wasn’t enough for me. When I see couples together 50-plus years, I’m so envious. I wanted to be married to him for the rest of my lifetime.

Anything else for now?

I’m honored. I’m overwhelmed. I’m excited.

Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee for more information about the upcoming film as it becomes available.

More stories on: Lightning & Thunder, Mike and Claire Sardina, Neil Diamond cover band, State Fair, Summerfest, Song Sung Blue, documentary, Kate Hudson, Hugh Jackman, Hollywood
Share with someone you care about:

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[jo]

SWEET CAROLINE


Where it began
I can't begin to know when
But then I know it's growin' strong
Was in the spring
And spring became the summer
Who'd have believe you'd come along?

Hands
Touchin' hands
Reachin' out
Touching me, touchin' you
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good

I've been inclined
To believe they never would
But now I look at the night
And it don't seem so lonely
We fill it up with only two
And when I hurt
Hurtin' runs off my shoulders
How can I hurt when holdin' you?

Warm
Touchin' warm
Reachin' out
Touchin' me, touchin' you
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I've been inclined
To believe they never would, oh, no, no

Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
Sweet Caroline
I believe they never could
Sweet Caroline

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SONG SUNG BLUE


Song sung blue
Everybody knows one
Song sung blue
Every garden grows one
Me and you are subject to the blues now and then
But when you take the blues and make a song
You sing them out again
Sing them out again

Song sung blue
Weeping like a willow
Song sung blue
Sleeping on my pillow
Funny thing, but you can sing it with a cry in your voice
And before you know, it get to feeling good
You simply got no choice
Me and you are subject to the blues now and then
But when you take the blues and make a song
You sing them out again

Song sung blue
Weeping like a willow
Song sung blue
Sleeping on my pillow
Funny thing, but you can sing it with a cry in your voice
And before you know, it started feeling good
You simply got no choice

Song sung blue
Song sung blue
Funny thing, but you can sing it with a cry in your voice

[njr]

Me being a former O.R. nurse, I would have immediately called 911 and gotten him to the ER! His life would probably have been saved!

Nancy

[jo]

jess, president of freak nation
@slutpool
um not to d0x myself but HUGH JACKMAN IS FILMING LITERALLY LESS THAN 5 MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE???

He's wearing a wig - which they will probably fix to look more like Mike Sardinia?

Jo

[jo]

Brings back memories when he had long hair for VAN HELSING ( was that 20 yrs or more ago?) --

[jo]

They're filming in Matawan, NJ!

www.facebook.com/RestoreMatawan/posts/pfbid0CWq9sT13wukAPGNwvMGmCG1WUzvJzRwCuv8aSuqUJepTUZ7ZELCMWWwgeJRd4Jwpl

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Filming into the night --

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www.facebook.com/100003344927650/videos/pcb.8429191083868972/1258342012070839[facebook

With his guitar!

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Reef
@subreef180
·
2m
Hugh Jackman In Town Filming 👀

[jo]

http://instagram.com/p/DBhQrXmy5yB

Keep swiping.


Jo

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Where they are filming --

http://instagram.com/p/DBgfErmRBUP

Keep swiping.


Jo