Bradley Cooper will direct and star in “Leonard,” a biopic about composer Leonard Bernstein, which Paramount Pictures and Amblin Partners will co-finance, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
Cooper will also write the script with Josh Singer, who wrote “Spotlight,” “The Post” and “First Man,” most recently. Cooper will produce through his Joint Effort banner alongside Fred Berner, Amy Durning, Kristie Macosko Krieger, and Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese.
Bernstein was a composer and conductor, as well as the music director of the New York Philharmonic. He composed the music for the classic Broadway musical “West Side Story,” which later became an Academy Award-winning film.
He also wrote music for the 1950 musical “Peter Pan,” 1953’s “Wonderful Town” as well as the operetta “Candide.” Bernstein died in 1990.
There is also another film based on the life story of Bernstein in development that is currently being shopped around Cannes: “The American,” with Cary Fukunaga attached to direct Jake Gyllenhaal.
Cooper most recently starred in “Avengers: Infinity War” as the voice of Rocket.
He will next be seen opposite Lady Gaga in Warner Bros.’ new remake of “A Star Is Born,” on which he made his feature directing debut. He is also currently in pre-production for “Deeper” and “Atlantic Wall.”
Cooper is represented by CAA and Relevant.
Deadline first reported the news.