Ethan Hawke has signed on to play Chet Baker in a new biopic about the legendary jazz trumpeter.
"Born to Be Blue" picks up with the Baker story late in the musician's life, when, after years of drug abuse, he stages a comeback.
Robert Budreau from the film "That Beautiful Somewhere" is directing "Born to Be Blue" from his own screenplay.
Hawke has worked closely on the development of the project, which will largely shoot in Sudbury, Ontario Canada.
"Born to Be Blue" is the second big jazz biopic to hit the market, following Don Cheadle's Miles Davis project "Kill the Trumpet Player," which co-stars "The Impossible" actor Ewan McGregor and "Guardians of the Galaxy" actress Zoe Saldana.
Carmen Ejogo from thriller movie "The Purge: Anarchy" and Callum Keith Rennie from upcoming erotic book to movie adaptation "Fifty Shades of Grey" will also co-star in "Born to Be Blue."
Producers are Jennifer Jonas and Leonard Farlinger of New Real Films; Jake Seal of Black Hangar Studios and Budreau through his Lumanity Productions.
Executive producers for the film include Andrew Chang-sang of Productivity Media, William Santor, John Hills, Adam Moryto, Stefan Jacobs, D. Matt Geller and Gurpreet Chandhoke.
K5 International has picked up world sales rights for the project and will be pitching it to buyers at the American Film Market next month. eOne has acquired the Canadian rights.
Hawke is repped by CAA, The Schiff Company and attorney George Sheanshang.
Ejogo is repped by ICM and Authentic. Budreau is repped by Brooke Ehrlich Artist Management.
