'Gossip Girl' Star Penn Badgley to Play Jeff Buckley on Big Screen

Gossip Girl star Penn Badgley will play singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley in the feature Greetings from Tim Buckley, which Dan Algrant is directing.

our editor recommends

Blake Lively, Penn Badgley Call It Quits

CW Renews 'Vampire Diaries,' 'Gossip Girl,' More

Written by Algrant, Emma Sheanshang and David Brendel, the film will tell the true story of the days leading up to Jeff Buckley’s 1991 appearance at his father’s tribute concert in St. Ann’s Church. Through a romance with a young woman working at the concert, he comes to understand the father who abandoned him and his cathartic performance launches his career.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's A-List Redefined

“In its purest form this is a father and son story, a rite of passage that is made possible by a romantic journey Jeff finds himself on. We see Jeff accepting who he is to become and laying to rest the ghost of his father while ultimately finding his voice. We had been searching well over a year for an actor that can come close to Jeff’s spirit while also having the serious musical chops required to authentically tell this story. Penn’s audition blew us away and we knew we found our star,” Smuggler Films' Patrick Milling Smith said in an officially announcing the casting on Monday.

The project will be produced by Smuggler Films, A-Z Prods. and Second Chance Prods. Producing are Milling Smith, John N. Hart and Fred Zollo. Exec producers are Brian Carmody, Jill Footlick and Ben Limberg.