Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal may have landed the role that will bring him his next Oscar nomination. Gyllenhaal will play the legendary composer Leonard Bernstein in Cary Fukunag’s The American.
The film is based on Humphrey Burton’s biography which follows Bernstein’s rise after conducting the New York Philharmonic at 25 and a career that included the score for On the Waterfront and the ground-breaking musical West Side Story. Gyllenhaal stated,
“Like many people, Leonard Bernstein found his way into my life and heart through West Side Story when I was a kid, “But as I got older and started to learn about the scope of his work, I began to understand the extent of his unparalleled contribution and the debt of gratitude modern American culture owes him. As a man, Bernstein was a fascinating figure — full of genius and contradiction — and it will be an incredible honor to tell his story with a talent and friend like Cary.”
Director Cary Fukunaga also commented on the projected stating,
“Bernstein’s artistic passions changed the way generations understood and appreciated music. It’s been wonderful collaborating with Michael and Jake on Bernstein’s story as we endeavor to capture both the iconic person and artist. Jake is the perfect partner to help bring this story to life and to play this legend.”
This combination is quite exciting and should be a film to look forward to once production is complete.
