Hugh Jackman is in talks to play Enzo Ferrari in a biopic from the Oscar-nominated film-maker Michael Mann.
According to Deadline , the star is likely to take on the role of the motor racing driver and entrepreneur while Noomi Rapace is set to play his estranged wife, Linda. The pair reportedly had a difficult relationship. Now that Jackman has finished playing Wolverine, he is able to break free from his strict workout regimen.
The film takes place in 1957, a year where passion, failure, success and death and life all collided in Ferrari’s battle for supremacy against rival Maserati.
Christian Bale was going to play Ferrari two years ago , but developed health concerns when he began putting on weight.
Mann has been in somewhat of a soft period career-wise over the past several years.
His last release was the 2015 hacker film Blackhat starring Chris Hemsworth, a film that didn’t go over very well with critics and was a total bomb at the box office, grossing just $19 million at the box office. Mann’s last bona fide hit was 2009’s Public Enemies, which did $241 million at the box office largely thanks to Johnny Depp’s then-considerable star power then.
Jackman is coming off strong reviews and big box office for Logan, his last onscreen time as Wolverine. He will next be seen in The Greatest Showman alongside Michelle Williams and Zac Efron.