Tom Hiddleston stars as Hank Williams in 'I Saw the Light' trailer

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- I Saw the Light released a first trailer starring Tom Hiddleston on Tuesday.

The preview sees the 34-year-old English actor channel late American country star Hank Williams. Hiddleston performed all of his own songs for the film, which follows the singer's sudden rise to fame and troubled personal life.

I Saw the Light is directed by Marc Abraham and opens in theaters March 25. Elizabeth Olsen co-stars as Williams' wife, Audrey Sheppard Williams, with Maddie Hasson as his second wife, Billie Jean, and Wrenn Schmidt as his girlfriend, Bobbie Jett.

"I take my responsibility very seriously," Hiddleston told Rolling Stone Country of the role in October. "I know a lot of people in this country and in [Nashville] really care about Hank Williams. He's an inspiration and an icon for so many people, so I don't take that lightly."

The actor described Williams as "someone who is confused and charismatic and ambitious and tempted and floored." The singer is known for such hits as "Hey Good Lookin'" and "Why Don't You Love Me," and died of drug and alcohol-related heart failure at age 29 in 1953.

"It's like he is so desperate to be in the center of the limelight, and he gets to the center of the limelight and he realizes there is no center," Hiddleston said. "By the time he realizes it, he is too drunk and high and lost -- and that's something very real about the human condition."

Hiddleston is known for playing Loki in the Marvel cinematic universe, and recently starred in Crimson Peak with Mia Wasikowska. The actor is slated for an AMC adaptation of The Night Manager and King Kong prequel film Kong: Skull Island with Brie Larson.