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Forest Whitaker to play Louis Armstrong in biopic

Oscar winner to play the role of the jazz great

Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker is set to play the part of the late jazz great Louis Armstrong in a new Armstrong biopic, 'What A Wonderful World'.

The film, named after Armstrong's most famous song, has been officially approved by his estate.

Ron Bass will act as executive producer for the film, while Alain Goldman and Edward R. Pressman will produce it.

Variety reports that the film will concentrate on Armstrong's early years in New Orleans.

"Armstrong left a monumental mark on our lives and our culture," Whitaker said. "He lived an amazing life and, through his art, shifted the way music was played and would be heard after him, not just here in the US but all over the world."

Filming for 'What A Wonderful World' will begin next summer.

Whitaker won the Best Actor Oscar in 2007 for his portrayal of Ugandan leader Idi Amin in 'The Last King Of Scotland'.
 

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Comments (3)

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dennisblandford 

Oct 9, 2008

Fingers crossed that this turns out to be a great film and that they don't balls it up. Armstrong was an amazing character and jazz was considered outrageous and shocking at the time, so let's hope the film doesn't end up as a sanitised schmaltz-fest.

rubbersoul7 

Oct 9, 2008

Forest Whitaker is an absolutely brilliant actor, i'm sure he'll do the great man justice.

cougarmicrobes 

Oct 10, 2008

Whitaker is simply brilliant, im sure he will do an ace job of this

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Pic: PA Photos

Pic: PA Photos

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