Forest Whitaker will direct and star in Louis Armstrong biopic "What a Wonderful World" for Legende says Variety.

The first film to be authorized by the Armstrong estate, will kick off during the musician's impoverished early years in New Orleans and primarily chronicle his career as a trumpet virtuoso and improvisational singer.

Ron Bass will write and executive produce the project alongside Oscar Cohen who is granting the filmmakers exclusive access to his personal accounts as Armstrong's road manager in the late '40s. Alain Goldman and Edward R. Pressman will produce.

Shooting begins next summer in Louisiana.