Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper has found his onscreen partner and a new title for the upcoming Leonard Bernstein film, Maestro. Carey Mulligan has been cast as Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein, wife of the legendary composer/conductor.
Cooper co-wrote the screenplay with Oscar-winning Spotlight screenwriter Josh Singer. Cooper has been working with the Bernstein family for three years developing the film as the followup to his directorial debut, A Star is Born. Maestro will tell the love story of Leonard and Felicia, a story that spans over 30 years–from the time they met in 1946 at a party and continuing through two engagements, a 25-year marriage, and three children.
The Bernstein children commented on the casting stating,
“We’re absolutely thrilled that Carey Mulligan will play our mother in Maestro,” said Jamie Bernstein.
“Carey will surely capture Felicia’s unique combination of wit, warmth, elegant beauty, and depth of emotion. We also love the way Carey conveys a kind of storybook European grace, which was something our mother embodied as well.”
Cooper added,
“I was struck by Carey ever since I saw her on stage many years ago and I haven’t missed a performance of hers since,”
“I am humbled to be working with such a mammoth talent, as well as such a kind person in Carey.”
