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Jeremy Luke and Joey Russo have been cast in Jersey Boys, the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, which will be helmed by Clint Eastwood.
The film, from Warner Bros. and GK Films, chronicles the rise and fall of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. As one of the best-selling music groups of all time, the band was known for hits “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Grease” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”
Luke, who has been cast to star in Frank Darabont‘s upcoming TNT drama Lost Angels, will play Donnie, a loan shark who is trying to extort money from Frankie Valli.
Russo has been cast as Joe “Joey” Pesci, who helped create the ‘60s musical group.
Luke and Russo, friends in real life, both hail from Staten Island and moved out to Los Angeles together. They created the web series Turbo and Joey.
Christopher Walken has already been cast in Jersey Boys to play Jersey mobster Angelo “Gyp” DeCarlo, who helps the young singers navigate through their careers. Walken is the only big-name actor who has been cast. The filmmakers are in negotiations with up-and-coming actors for the main roles.
Graham King, Rob Lorenz and Tim Headington are producing and Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio are executive producing.
The Broadway musical Jersey Boys won four Tony Awards at the 2006 ceremony, including best musical. The show has grossed more than $1.2 billion worldwide.
Luke, whose upcoming projects include Joseph Gordon-Levitt‘s directorial debut, Don Jon, is repped by Luber Roklin Entertainment and Pantheon Talent. Russo is repped by MJ Management and Rick Genow of Stone, Meyer, Genow, Smelkinson and Binder.
E-mail: Rebecca.Ford@THR.com
Twitter: @Beccamford
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