BRADLEY COOPER has found his onscreen partner and a new title—“Maestro”— for the Leonard Bernstein film he will star in and direct for Netflix. Carey Mulligan has been cast as Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein, wife of the legendary composer/conductor. Shooting will begin next spring.

Cooper co-wrote the screenplay with Oscar-winning“Spotlight” scribe Josh Singer. Cooper has been working with the Bernstein family for three years developing the film as the followup to his directorial debut,“A Star Is Born.”“Maestro” will tell the complex love story of Leonard and Felicia, a story that spans over30 years from the time they met in1946 at a party and continuing through two engagements, a25-year marriage and three children.

The Bernstein children sparked to Mulligan playing their mom.“We’re absolutely thrilled that Carey Mulligan will play our mother in‘Maestro,’” said Jamie Bernstein.“Carey will surely capture Felicia’s unique combination of wit, warmth, elegant beauty, and depth of emotion. We also love the way Carey conveys a kind of storybook European grace, which was something our mother embodied as well.”

Felicia moved to New York City at the age of21 to pursue acting and piano. She performed on many stages— twice on Broadway— and appeared in several TV dramas. She remained a lifelong outspoken advocate for social justice, while pursuing her multiple occupations as performer and painter.

“I was struck by Carey ever since I saw her on stage many years ago and I haven’t missed a performance of hers since,” said Cooper.“I am humbled to be working with such a mammoth talent, as well as such a kind person.”(SD-Agencies)