Ethan Hawke will play jazz trumpeter Chet Baker in writer-director Robert Budreau’s Born to Be Blue, EW has confirmed.
The actor—who just received a Best Actor nomination from the Gotham Independent Film Awards for Boyhood—is joined by co-stars Carmen Ejogo (Selma) and Callum Keith Rennie (Fifty Shades of Grey). The film, which Hawke helped develop with its producers, tells the story of Chet Baker’s amazing comeback and roller coaster love affair that altered the way he played music and aided him on the road to redemption.
New Real Films’ Jennifer Jonas and Leonard Farlinger, Lumanity Productions’ Budreau, and Black Hangar Sudios’ Jake Seal are producing. William Santor, John Hills, Andrew Chang-sang, Adam Moryto, Stefan Jacobs, D. Matt Geller, and Gurpreet Chandhoke are executive producing.
K5 International is dealing with the film’s international rights. It will introduce the film to buyers at the American Film Market in Santa Monica next month. eOne is distributing the film in Canada.
Born to Be Blue is currently in production in Canada.
