Don Cheadle is working on the most important role in his career, playing legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis.
The actor recently gave Entertainment Weekly the deets about the film, which will also be his feature film directorial debut.
"At this point, with everything that's happening, its real and surreal and hyperreal and every version of it that I can think of," Cheadle said.
The film will co-star Ewan McGregor, Michael Stuhlbarg and Emayatzy Corinealdi and begins shooting this week in Cincinnati.
It has been a long time coming for Cheadle and the producers. Miles Ahead has been in development for nearly a decade.
Cheadle, who says Davis' Porgy and Bess album was a staple of his family's music collection, also co-wrote the film.
"His music was definitely a part of my life very early on, thanks to my parents," he said explaining his exposure to Davis. "I remember the Porgy and Bess album by Gil Evans and Miles Davis that was in my house."
Cheadle's love and passion for Davis' music motivated him to proceed with the film. He has even sought out crowdfunding.
"This is an independently produced film," he said. There is no studio element. We're still in the process locking down all the financing so it was a component of funds needed to cover a gap , including my own personal money I've put into the movie and a consortium of others."
EW says Miles Ahead will highlight his transition into music after a five-year hiatus and his relationship with his wife.
"The construction of the movie is the parallel story of Miles in 1979 at the end of this quiet period he was in, the five-year stretch of time when he wasn't playing and performing and recording, juxtaposed against the 10-year period where he was with Francis Taylor Davis, who, at the time, was the love of his life and his muse," Cheadle said.
No release date has been set for the film. Stay tuned for updates.
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