CBGB the Movie finds its punks

Malin Akerman sang for the Petaltones. She's to play Debbie Harry. (Associated Press)

Casting is shaping up for CBGB the Movie, a film project that will tell the story of Hilly Kristal, the man who founded 1970s punk rock club CGGB. The latest news is that Taylor Hawkins, drummer of the Foo Fighters, will be playing Iggy Pop. Mickey Sumner of The Borgias (the daughter of rock heavyweight Sting) is to play Patti Smith. Also, Johnny Galecki will take a break from playing physicist Leonard Hofstadter on TV's The Big Bang Theory to portray Terry Ork, manager of rock band Television.

Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters has never acted before. He'll play Iggy Pop. (Associated Press)

They join a lineup that already includes Harry Potter stars Alan Rickman as Hilly Kristal and Rupert Grint as Cheetah Chrome, a guitarist for Rocket From the Tombs and punk rock band The Dead Boys.

Canadian actress Malin Akerman has landed a plum role as Debbie Harry, lead singer for Blondie. The tall, blonde Akerman, who was born in Stockholm, Sweden and moved to Canada at the age of two, drew notice in 2009 when she played the Silk Spectre II in Watchmen. She's had roles in The Proposal and Couples Retreat, but also has musical chops - she was the lead singer for the alternative rock band The Petalstones.

Other casting already in place:
• Stana Katic (Castle) as Genya Ravan
• Joel David Moore (Bones) as Joey Ramone
• Steven Schub (24 ) as Dee Dee Ramone.
• Evan Alex Cole (She's Out of My League) as Richard Hell.
• Peter Vack (I Just Want My Pants Back) as Legs McNeil.
• Kerry Bishé (Red State) as Mary Harron.

Kristal began CBGB hoping it would be a country, bluegrass and blues club. But he had trouble booking those sorts of acts in 1970s New York. Instead he opened his doors to acts other venues had rejected and the club became a mecca for New Wave and punk music. The club closed in 2006.

Shooting on CBGB the Movie begins in Savannah, Georgia on June 25 and then moves to New York. Now, the challenge for director Randall Miller is to make all those Hollywood beauties look like punks.