Jackie Robinson Biopic Set For April 12, 2013 Opening

Buried in yesterday's news that Warner Bros. is somehow making an animated movie about Legos was word that their highly anticipated—at least in certain circles, namely, ours—biopic of Jackie Robinson, "42" has been scheduled for an April 12, 2013 release. Just in time for another baseball season, and (coincidentally) MLB's annual Jackie Robinson Day, when all the major league teams band together to honor the late hero and pioneer.

The film will be directed by Brian Helgeland—what, was Spike Lee busy?—celebrated screenwriter of "L.A. Confidential," "Mystic River," and, um, "Man On Fire." Helegeland also directed "A Knight's Tale," for what that's worth. Up-and-comer Chadwick Boseman will star as Robinson, while Hollywood legend Harrison Ford (!) will play the Brooklyn Dodgers' enterprising General Manager, Branch Rickey. A role for which he is surely destined to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Anyway, the only question that remains—besides, again, why didn't they hire Spike Lee—might be who'll play Pee-Wee Reese, the Dodgers' shortstop who was instrumental in Robinson's ultimate acceptance? Josh Brolin's way too old. Joseph Gordon-Levitt?

[via THR]