Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins is to step into Iggy Pop's skinny jeans.

Hawkins has signed on to play the Stooges frontman in new film CBGB, which tells the story of the legendary New York punk club. He will join former Harry Potter star Rupert Grint, who is playing Cheetah Chrome, guitarist with CBGB regulars the Dead Boys. Malin Åkerman will follow her turn in Rock of Ages as Blondie's Debbie Harry. The cast will also include Alan Rickman as venue boss Hilly Kristal, Mickey Sumner as Patti Smith, the Big Bang Theory's Johnny Galecki as Television manager Terry Ork, Steven Schub as Dee Dee Ramone, Evan Alex Cole as Richard Hell, Peter Vack as Legs McNeil and Kerry Bisché as Mary Harron.

The story follows Kristal in his efforts to turn the tiny club into a groundbreaking rock venue. Starting out as home to country, bluegrass and blues musicians, the club's legend was forged when Kristal turned to booking local artists. CBGB will be directed by Randall Miller from a script he has co-written with Jody Savin, with filming expected to start this month in Savannah, Georgia, before moving to New York. Kristal's daughter, Lisa Kristal Burgman, who controls her late father's estate, is on board as co-producer.

It will be Hawkins' first major screen role, following bandmate Dave Grohl who had a cameo in The Muppets. Ewan McGregor previously played Curt Wild, a character closely based on Iggy Pop in Todd Haynes's 1998 movie Velvet Goldmine.

CBGB closed in 2006, but there have been efforts to reopen it in some form. The assets have been bought by a group of investors who want to set up a new annual festival under the CBGB name, taking place at various sites across New York City.