How do you find the right actor to play Jackie Robinson in a biopic? A while back you could have had either Will Smith or Denzel Washington do it, but considering Robinson was 28 when he broke the color barrier and Smith and Washington are 43 and 56, respectively, that's just not going to work. There's also the issue of finding an actor who can disappear into the role be Jackie Robinson instead of just playing him. Given those factors, the best bet would probably to find a talented up-and-comer to take the role, and that's exactly what's happening with Legendary Pictures' 42.
Chadwick Boseman is now in final talks to take the role of the legendary baseball player, according to Variety. While the project won't be his first film role - he recently wrapped production on an action movie called The Kill Hole for writer-director Mischa Webley and played Floyd Little in The Express - most of Boseman's experience has been on television, with single episode appearances on shows like Fringe, Justified, Castle, and The Glades. He also played in Christopher McQuarrie's miniseries Persons Unknown as Graham McNair. The Robinson biopic will be written and directed by Brian Helgeland, who is best known for scripting the Oscar-winning screenplay for L.A. Confidential.
I can't say that I'm all too familiar with Boseman's work, but he looks the part and this is a part that can really launch his career. The story of Jackie Robinson is probably the most iconic and easily the most important in baseball history, as it not only changed the sport but had a major impact on the civil rights movement. I look forward to seeing what he can do.
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