Nelly has been cast as Chuck Berry in Buddy Holly Biopic

Rapper Nelly has been added to the cast of Clear Lake, an upcoming biopic about Buddy Holly – he will be playing the late rock ‘n’ roll legend, Chuck Berry.

The film, which has been written by Patrick Shanahan and is being directed by Bruce Beresford, will tell the story of rock n’ roll’s formation and impact across the late 1950s. Playing Buddy Holly, who died at the age of 22 in a plane crash, is actor Ruairi O’Connor.

Speaking to Variety in May, Bruce Beresford said of the film: “I found myself attracted to Clear Lake because the script tells the tragic story of Buddy Holly and his era in fascinating detail and with vivid characterisations. Needless to say, the added plus of all the wonderful music was also a major lure.”

The film has been authorised by Holly’s estate via record label BMG, which manages his estate and controls the US publishing rights to his back-catalogue. There is currently no release date set – filming was also delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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