Bruce Springsteen made a surprise appearance and delivered an impromptu performance following the New York Film Festival premiere of his biopic, “Deliver Me From Nowhere.” The film, centered on Springsteen's iconic “Nebraska” album, stars Jeremy Allen White as the legendary musician and is slated for an October 24 release by 20th Century Studios.

The event, which created significant buzz in Manhattan, saw Springsteen join the film's cast on stage at Alice Tully Hall. Alongside White, co-stars Jeremy Strong, Stephen Graham, Odessa Young, and Gaby Hoffman were present. Strong portrays Springsteen’s longtime manager, Jon Landau, while Graham and Hoffman play Springsteen’s late parents, Douglas “Dutch” Springsteen and Adele Springsteen, respectively.

Before captivating the audience with an acoustic rendition of “Land of Hopes and Dreams,” Springsteen shared some reflections on the film and his co-stars. He playfully thanked Jeremy Allen White for portraying a “much better-looking version of me” and quipped that Jeremy Strong played a “much, much better-looking version of Jon Landau.” Springsteen also took a poignant moment to honor his departed parents, expressing gratitude for the film as a lasting tribute: “They’re all gone now, so it’s nice to have this piece of film.”

Beyond the film’s immediate context, Springsteen touched upon broader societal themes. He acknowledged the “dangerous times” we live in, noting daily reminders of this reality. Reflecting on his career, he described his life on the road as that of a “musical ambassador for America,” striving to bridge the gap “between American reality, where we’ve often fallen short of our ideals.” Despite these challenges, he concluded with a message of hope, asserting that for many, America “continues to be a land of hope and dreams, not of fear or divisiveness or government censorship or hatred.” A clip of his performance of “Land Of Hope And Dreams” from the festival quickly circulated online.