Nelsan Ellis, Ian McShane Added To ‘Bolden’ BiopicPosted by Wilson Morales
August 6, 2014
Source: Deadline
A couple of actors known for their series on HBO have joined the cast of “Bolden,” the biopic about musician Buddy Bolden, considered the father of jazz.
Coming onboard are Nelsan Ellis, known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds in HBO’s True Blood, and Ian McShane, known for his role on HBO’s drama series Deadwood.
Starring Downtown Abbey’s Gary Carr in the lead role, the film was written and directed by Dan Pritzker. He completed the first round of filming in 2010 and will finish the pic with new scenes this fall. Because of the production hiatus, the title role of Bolden was recast with Carr replacing Mackie, whose schedule could not accommodate the new shooting schedule.
The film is set in 1931 New Orleans, when Buddy Bolden, a long-time asylum inmate, hears the strains of a Louis Armstrong concert drift into his room from the radio in a nearby nurse’s station. The sound evokes memories of his long-forgotten youth as a ground-breaking cornetist, when he played and improvised his way to the forefront of a new musical style, ultimately creating what would evolve decades later into jazz. Multiple Grammy winner Wynton Marsalis composed the score.
McShane will portray Bolden’s nemesis Judge Perry, while Ellis will play the role of Bartley, the wily entrepreneur who manages the Bolden Band.
Jon Cornick and Michele Tayler are producing with Leonard Loventhal, Ed Arrendrell and Marsalis exec producing.
Ellis is currently on the big screen in the James Brown biopic, Get On Up, playing Bobby Byrd, while McShane was last seen in Hercules opposite Dwayne Johnson.
