Jake Gyllenhaal to play Leonard Bernstein in 'The American'

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal has been roped in to star as composer-pianist Leonard Bernstein in the upcoming film 'The American'.

The movie will be directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, who earlier helmed films like 'Sin Nombre', 'Jane Eyre' and 'Beasts of No Nation', reports Variety.

'The American' is based on the biography 'Leonard Bernstein' by Humphrey Burton. In five movements, like a symphony, 'The American' follows Leonard Bernstein from conducting the New York Philharmonic at the age of 25 through the meteoric rise to fame, all while struggling both personally and publicly to be everything that everyone expected him to be, most of all himself.

"Like many people, Leonard Bernstein found his way into my life and heart through 'West Side Story' when I was a kid," Gyllenhaal said.

"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 honour to tell his story with a talent and friend like Cary," Gyllenhaal added.