Martin Scorsese working on biopic of classical pianist Byron Janis

Martin Scorsese is reportedly developing a biopic on Byron Janis, the classical pianist. It is being set up at Paramount.

According to Variety, which first reported on the project, the script will be written by Peter Glanz (The Longest Week). It will be based on Janis’ own book, Chopin and Beyond: My Extraordinary Life in Music and the Paranormal.

Janis, 87, was an important figure during the Cold War, performing in the Soviet Union in 1960. He is also acclaimed for his extensive repertoire and is a fan of the work of Frederic Chopin. In 1967, he even found two previously unknown Chopin pieces. Janis, according to his website, was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in both hands, but still continues to perform.

Scorsese’s next film is Silence, a passion project that stars Adam Driver, Liam Neeson and Andrew Garfield. Entertainment Weekly notes that Scorsese is also developing a biopic on composer Leonard Bernstein with Spotlight co-writer Josh Singer.

Paramount will release Silence, but the studio still hasn’t set a release date. Paramount also released Shutter Island, Hugo and The Wolf of Wall Street.

Scorsese is also a producer on HBO’s Vinyl, which begins in February.