He's speeding on to our screens in Baby Driver, but Ansel Elgort is taking to the ocean for a future film. He's on to play the young John F. Kennedy in Mayday 109.
Samuel Franco and Evan Kilgore have written the script, which will follow the real-life exploits of the future American President when he was the Naval captain of a PT (Patrol Torpedo) boat that was attacked and sunk by a convoy of Japanese destroyers during World War II. He then became a key figure in one of the most dramatic rescues in high seas history.
Right now, the film is in dry dock waiting for a director to command it, but producers Basil Iwanyk and Beau Flynn are on the hunt for the right person, and seem delighted with their choice of leading man. "We could not be more excited about Ansel coming aboard," Iwanyk tells Deadline. "Not only is he a tremendous actor, he embodies the charisma, athleticism and looks of a young JFK. We love that this is not a biopic nor a film about politics. This is simply a riveting and unbelievable tale that very few people know – about a young man who was a hero long before becoming the iconic 35th President of the United States. With Ansel, we’ve found our perfect JFK."
Baby Driver is on its way now, and Elgort will also be seen in November Criminals, Billionaire Boys Club and Jonathan.
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