A couple of days after putting into development, the post-apocalyptic space tale based on a comic titled Planetoid, via his Revelations Entertainment production company, Morgan Freeman, has signed up to star in Beautiful Jim Key, which will be directed by Robert Rodat for The Mark Gordon Company and Freeman’s own Revelations Entertainment.
The story follows a Dr. William Key, a real-life early 20th century showman, and his performing horse, named Beautiful Jim Key. A self-trained veterinarian, William Key was born a slave in 1833. As a child he demonstrated a talent for working with horses and mules. Educated by his master, John W. Key, and his master’s sons, Key read veterinary texts and experimented with animal remedies until he became a successful veterinarian. After the Civil War, he organized a traveling minstrel and medicine show, at which his animals performed skits to demonstrate the apparent effectiveness of his medications. He would eventually come to own a sickly horse, which he named Jim, which he nursed back to good health, and put through a rigorous training routine that lasted for seven years. When he finally became a part of Key’s traveling act, Jim could reportedly spell, distinguish among coins and make change, write letters and his name on a blackboard, identify playing cards, play a hand organ, and respond to political inquiries, among other amazing feats.
For nine years, Key and Beautiful Jim toured major cities in the country until 1906, when, after appearing before almost two million spectators, Key and Beautiful Jim retired to Shelbyville, IN, where Key lived comfortably until his death in 1909.
The film revolves around this true story.
Morgan Freeman will of course play William Key, with Robert Rodat making his directorial debut.
Cargo Entertainment is handling international sales at Cannes, where the film is being shopped.
Production is slated to start early next year.
Freeman was last seen in the Johnny Depp starrer dud Transcendence.