William Hurt to play Gregg Allman in bio-picture

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- William Hurt will play singer and musician Gregg Allman in director Randall Miller's bio-picture "Midnight Rider," the Hollywood Reporter said.

The film is a screen adaptation of Allman's memoir "My Cross to Bear." It is scheduled to begin shooting in Georgia next month, the newspaper said.

All-American Rejects singer Tyson Ritter is to play Allman as a young man, while Wyatt Russell will portray Allman's late brother Duane.