Jeremy Allen White addresses whether or not he’d play look-alike Gene Wilder in upcoming biopic

Leigh BlickleyWed, October 7, 2026 at 6:36 PM UTC

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Jeremy Allen White; Gene WilderCredit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/GettyKey Points -

Jeremy Allen White is open to playing Gene Wilder in the upcoming biopic about the late actor.

The Bear star said on the Today show that he has been a longtime fan of the Young Frankenstein star.

White also portrayed Bruce Springsteen in the biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.

If there was ever a role meant for Jeremy Allen White, this is the one.

During an interview with Today’s Craig Melvin on Wednesday, The Social Reckoning star addressed whether or not he’d be up to playing the late, great Gene Wilder in an upcoming biopic. White admitted he would “absolutely” portray the actor, writer, and director if asked — noting his admiration for the Hollywood legend.

“It would be my honor,” White stated. “Young Frankenstein is one of my earliest film memories. Blazing Saddles... he’s a genius. It would be an honor. He was a genius. Yeah, I love him. I’ve always loved him.”

“So what I’m hearing is someone needs to call Jeremy Allen White,” Melvin quipped.

White agreed, “I need the call.”

The Emmy-winning The Bear star has long been regarded as a famous look-alike of Wilder’s due to their striking blue eyes, curly dirty blond locks, and prominent physical features. While no formal casting decision has been shared, fans have been campaigning for White to play Wilder since the biopic was announced in June. (He also recently proved his celebrity-playing-celebrity chops, portraying Bruce Springsteen in Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere last year.)

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Filmmaker Dito Montiel secured life rights from Wilder’s estate and is currently in development on the biopic. The Guide to Recognizing Your Saints director is co-writing the script with Jeremy Roth, whose credits include Hulu’s Love, Victorand How I Met Your Father.

Jeremy Allen White and Mikey Madison in ‘The Social Reckoning’Credit: Leah Gallo

According to Deadline, the film “will explore the man behind the iconic performances, tracing his rise from a shy young theater actor to one of cinema’s most singular comedic voices, while examining the personal struggles, relationships, and challenges that shaped both his life and work.”

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Wilder — best known for the aforementioned Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles (both 1974) as well as Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), The Producers (1967), and See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989) — died in August 2016 at the age of 83. He was secretly battling Alzheimer’s disease for three years before his death.

In a statement, Wilder’s family shared at the time, “The choice to keep this private was his choice, in talking with us and making a decision as a family. We understand for all the emotional and physical challenges this situation presented we have been among the lucky ones — this illness-pirate, unlike in so many cases, never stole his ability to recognize those that were closest to him, nor took command of his central-gentle-life affirming core personality. It took enough, but not that.”

on Entertainment Weekly

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