In one of the weirdest instances of dueling projects in recent memory, today’s hot project is… a biopic of iconic composerLeonard Bernstein. In 2015,Martin Scorseseeyed the subject for a movie at Paramount, then earlier this year we learned thatSteven Spielbergwas possibly adding a Bernstein movieto his potential docket.And thenlast week we learned that filmmakerCary Joji Fukunagawas teaming up withJake Gyllenhaalfor their own takeon a Bernstein biopic, and nowBradley Cooperwants in on the fun.
Deadlinereports that Cooper will co-write, direct, and star in a Leonard Bernstein biopic co-financed by Paramount and Amblin Entertainment, with Scorsese and Spielberg onboard as producers. That means Spielberg has opted not to direct a Bernstein movie after all, and will instead just produce—something the notoriously choosy director has done plenty of times in the past. Cooper will write the screenplay with Oscar-winningSpotlightscribeJosh Singer, who also co-wrote Spielberg’sThe PostandDamien Chazelle’s upcomingNeil ArmstrongmovieFirst Man.
So why is Bernstein so hot right now? I really don’t know. He’s a fascinating figure to be sure—a child prodigy who went on to compose such iconic works asWest Side StoryandPeter Pan, and whose work was hugely influential to the world of music composition. But I can’t put my finger on any sort of renewed relevance at this point in time.
This Cooper project has been in the works for a long while with producersFred BernerandAmy Durning, who have worked hard to secure the rights with the Bernstein family, saw the rights lapse due to script delays, and then re-engaged in rights talks once Cooper and Spielberg came onboard.
Cooper’s directorial debutA Star Is Bornhits theaters later this year, in which he also stars alongsideLady Gaga. Buzz is hot on that one as a potential Oscar contender, and if it indeed is the goods then this Bernstein biopic could be Cooper’s next project. But regardless it sounds like Fukunaga and Gyllenhaal’s film, titledThe Americanand based onHumphrey Burton’s biography, will go first as production on that movie is set to begin this fall. With an awards race ahead of him, Cooper can’t commit to making this Bernstein film until next year, if it even is his next movie.
So we’ll see what happens. Either Cooper’s project falls away whenThe Americanmoves quickly, Cooper sticks with it and we have two Bernstein movies, or Fukunaga’s film falls apart and Cooper moves forward with his take. What a weird thing.
