[Dixielandjazz] Surprise, Surprise

[Stephen G Barbone]

Surprise, Surprise: Now We Get Battling Louis Armstrong Projects
by Monika Bartyzel Oct 8th 2008 // 4:32PM
Filed under: Drama, Music & Musicals, Casting, Scripts
Just a few weeks ago, there was word that Charles S. Dutton was  
working on a Louis Armstrong miniseries with Quincy Jones, and John  
Sayles -- one heck of a dream team. But of course, this is Hollywood  
and one project can never be enough -- especially when we're talking  
about a recognizable icon. Now word comes that we're getting a feature  
film as well.

Variety reports that Forest Whitaker is not only going to star as  
Louis in an upcoming biopic called What a Wonderful World, but also  
direct it. (This is the second music icon Whitaker is becoming -- he  
already played Charlie Parker in Bird.) Now, while Sayles is the  
powerhouse behind Dutton's project, Ron Bass (Rain Man) will be  
writing this feature with the help of Armstrong's estate. They're  
allowing the Oscar-winning scribe exclusive access to personal  
accounts, letters, and other archive material, which should give the  
film some interesting depth as it starts "during the musician's  
impoverished early years in New Orleans and [will] primarily chronicle  
his career as a trumpet virtuoso and improvisational singer."

The dueling projects certainly won't completely overlap since the  
miniseries is taking on Armstrong's whole life, and the feature will  
add exclusive insight into the man. But still, I can't help but wish  
they were all working together. Sayles and Whitaker? That'd be magic.