Reese Witherspoon is in discussions to play Peggy Lee in an untitled biopic, reports Variety.
Lee’s professional life began with #1 hits in the early 1940’s, placing her at the forefront of mainstream jazz. Continuing to perform well into the 1990’s, Lee also appeared onscreen in a number of films, including Michael Curtiz’s remake of The Jazz Singer and (in several voice roles) in Disney’s Lady and the Tramp.
Witherspoon allegedly went after the rights to the singer/songwriter’s life story herself with an eye to depicting Lee onscreen. The project is currently being set up at Fox 2000 with Nora Ephron attached to write and direct.
In 2006, Witherspoon won an Oscar for her work as June Carter in Fox 2000’s Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line.
