(popmatters.com) - Jamie Foxx is set to star as a schizophrenic musician in new film 'The Soloist'.The 'Miami Vice' actor has signed up for the role of real-life musical prodigy Nathaniel Ayers, who developed the mental illness in his second year at music school and ended up homeless on the streets of Los Angeles.
'The Soloist' will be directed by 'Pride and Prejudice' filmmaker Joe Wright and written by 'Erin Brokovich' scribe Susannah Grant.
The plot surrounds the relationship Nathaniel develops with Steve Lopez, a Los Angeles Times reporter whose column inspired the script.
Foxx has previously won an Oscar for playing soul musician Ray Charles in 'Ray', and is a classically trained pianist.
For this role he will be tackling both the cello and the violin, two of the only possessions Nathaniel has with him on the streets, and is currently learning to play the stringed instruments with a cellist from the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra.
The 39-year-old actor can next be seen alongside Jennifer Garner in 'The Kingdom', set for release in October.