Ethan Hawke to pick up the trumpet and needle in Chet Baker biopic

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Shooting is now underway for the biopic BORN TO BE BLUE, which will chronicle the rise and fall of jazz singer/songwriter Chet Baker. Evidently the film will focus on Baker's resurgence in popularity in the 1970s, as well as his love affair and eventual death due to a mixture of cocaine and heroin. Ethan Hawke has been tapped to play Baker, and will star alongside the likes of Carmen Ejogo (THE PURGE: ANARCHY) and Callum Keith (MEMENTO, Battlestar Galactica). Apparently Hawke has worked very closely with writer/director Robert Budreau in developing the film.

Ethan Hawke has always been a solid actor, but I'd argue that he's having a lot more fun with the roles he's been playing for the last decade or so. Music biopics are a dime a dozen, and while I know very little on Chet Baker, there's nothing like some drugs and jazz to bring out the acting chops in a person. Also it's worth noting that Callum Keith was absolutely amazing as Leoben in Battlestar Galactica, so I'm ridiculously excited to see what he'll bring to the table alongside Hawke.  When it comes to Hawke you can tell pretty easily between his passion and paycheck projects and this one thankfully seems to be the former.

With shooting now underway in Ontario, Canada we can probably expect the film to hit screens sometime in 2015.