Ethan Hawke is set to play jazz legend Chet Baker in Born to be Blue, a film he helped develop for writer/director Robert Budreau. Baker broke out in the 1950s and was seen as the whole package with the aura of a James Dean, but his turbulent life was ruled by drug addiction and it nearly derailed his career. The film will follow Baker's "amazing comeback and roller coaster love affair that altered the way he played music and aided him on the road to redemption."[EW]
Lone Scherfig (An Education) continues to gather Hollywood's youngest and brightest for her most recent films. She's set to adapt Lissa Evans' book, Their Finest Hour and a Half, and she's brought on Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) and Lily James (Cinderella) to star. The story has an interesting premise, taking place after the German blitz of WWII when a British movie crew tries to make a patriotic film to boost morale. Claflin recently worked with Scherfig on the secret society drama, The Riot Club, while James is currently filming Pride & Prejudice & Zombies. [Deadline]
