A Lynyrd Skynyrd biopic is set to make its debut at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival on February 16, 2020, followed by a wider release this spring.
Street Survivors: The True Story Of The Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash centers on drummer Artimus Pyle’s experience as a band member in Lynyrd Skynyrd and the day the plane they rented crashed in Mississippi on October 20th, 1977 taking the lives of singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister back up singer Cassie Gaines, road manager Dean Kilpatrick, and the two pilots.
Named after Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1977 album of the same name, Street Survivors is directed by Jared Cohn and features Cleopatra Records founder Brian Perera on production duties.
The cast includes Ian Shultis as Artimus Pyle, Taylor Clift as Ronnie Van Zant, Samuel Kay Forrest as Steve Gaines, Rich Dally III as Allen Collins, Hudson Long as Billy Powell, and Nick Cairo as Leon Wilkeson. Neill Byrnes and Anthony Rocco Bovo play Aerosmith rockers Steven Tyler and Joe Perry.
The movie is based on the book by the band’s former drummer Artimus Pyle, Street Survivor: Keeping the Beat in Lynyrd Skynyrd. Pyle also narrates the film and plans to appear at select screenings around the country. He says, “This film’s story — my story — is not just about the plane crash but also about my personal relationship with the genius that was Ronnie Van Zant, whom I loved like a brother and still miss to this day.”
The film’s soundtrack, Video-On-Demand, and Home Entertainment releases are scheduled for June 30th.
