August 18, 2007 0:39

Jamie Foxx to take on another music role

Oscar-winner will play Skid Row prodigy Nathaniel Anthony Ayers

Jamie Foxx is set to play another musical genius, this time a mentally unstable violin player.

Foxx, who won an Oscar in 2005 for his portrayal of Ray Charles in ‘Ray’ will play Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a Juilliard student who had a nervous breakdown at aged 20.

Ayers quit the famed school and lived homeless on notorious Skid Row in Los Angeles until Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez spotted him playing violin near a statue of Beethoven.

The pair became friends, and Lopez helped Ayers to get back on his feet. The friendship is set to be the focus of the movie which will begin filming in January. Who will play Lopez has not yet been determined.

--By our New York staff.
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