UPDATE: Controversy erupts over the newly released film Song Sung Blue, as Michael Sardina Jr., son of the late musician Mike Sardina, publicly blasts stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. Sardina Jr. accuses the film of distorting his father’s legacy and claims he was unjustly excluded from the narrative.
The biographical drama, directed by Craig Brewer, premiered recently and details the lives of the Milwaukee-based tribute performers Mike “Lightning” Sardina and Claire “Thunder” Sardina, portrayed by Jackman and Hudson. However, Sardina Jr. asserts that the portrayal is far from the truth. “My father’s rolling in his grave right now,” he stated in an interview with the Daily Mail. He expressed that the film “completely destroyed the one thing my father worked his entire life to pass on — his legacy.”
Sardina Jr. revealed that despite serving as a consultant on the film, he received a mere $30,000 for his contribution, which he described as “pathetic.” He further claimed that during the film’s New York City premiere, he faced restrictions that prevented him from interacting with cast members or the media, adding to his frustration. “Every interview that those monsters have been on national television don’t even mention my existence at all, even though I was the most prevalent force in my father’s life,” he declared.
The emotional fallout extends to Angelina Sardina, Mike Sardina’s daughter, who voiced similar grievances about the film’s accuracy. “The only thing that was true is the love between my dad and Claire. It’s a beautiful story, but that’s not how it went down. And I guess that’s what’s upsetting because it’s a lie,” she said.
As the film garners mixed reviews from audiences, the Sardina family’s criticism underscores a growing concern over the representation of real-life figures in biographical productions. With tensions high and public interest piqued, the fallout from the film’s portrayal of the Sardina legacy is expected to continue making headlines.
Watch for updates as the story develops, and see how Jackman and Hudson respond to these allegations.