Morgan Freeman To Play Ex-Slave, Veterinarian Dr. William Key In ‘Beautiful Jim Key‘Posted by Wilson Morales
May 18, 2014
Source: THR
Morgan Freeman is set to play Dr. William Key, was a former slave, a self-trained veterinarian, and a patent medicine salesman in the period drama, ‘Beautiful Jim Key,’ reports THR.
Screenwriter Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan, The Patriot) will be making his directorial debut. the movie is based on the book Beautiful Jim Key by Mim Eichler Rivas.
Jim Key tells the true story of Key, an ex-slave, Civil War veteran and self-taught veterinarian who trained a horse named Beautiful Jim Key to read, spell and do math. Because he is black, Key is relegated to carnival sideshows until he is recruited by Albert Rogers, a one-time promoter for P.T. Barnum, who is now a washed up drunk, to be his front man. Together they made Beautiful Jim Key a national sensation and become the centerpiece of the world famous 1904 St. Louis Exposition.
Mark Gordon will be producing the film along with Lori McCreary of Revelations Entertainment, Freeman’s production company and Cargo Entertainment’s Marina Grasic and Rogers Hartman. Cargo is currently selling the international rights in Cannes.
Freeman’s Revelations Entertainment is also co-producing the CBS drama pilot, ‘Madam Secretary,’ starring his ‘Deep Impact’ co-star Tea Leoni. Freeman, who was last seen opposite Johnny Depp in ‘Transcendence,’ will next appear with Scarlett Johansson in Luc Besson’s action thriller ‘Lucy.’
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