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Anthony Mackie to Play Jimmy Hendrix

Anthony Mackie set to star in a new film about legendary rock guitarist Jimmy Hendrix that also stars Thandi Newton in “Jimi” a film about the last nine days of Jimmy Hendrix’s life.

CelebNMusic247.com has learned that Mackie’s Hendrix film has the approval of the Jimi Hendrix estate and will feature the rocker’s music unlike Outkast’s Andre 3000’s doomed project All is By My Side biopic.

Here is what else we’ve learned about Anthony Mackie’s new Jimi biopic:

Anthony Mackie is set to play Jimi Hendrix in a new incarnation of the long-gestating project “Jimi,” which was formerly known as “Crosstown Traffic.”

Ol Parker will direct from his own screenplay, which Paul Greengrass had once planned to direct with Mackie starring. The project fell apart in 2010 following objections from Hendrix’s estate over the script’s portrayal of the legendary rock star. Those concerns appear to have been addressed, as Parker himself will now step behind the camera.

Parker’s wife, Thandie Newton, will co-star in the film, which chronicles the last nine days of Hendrix’s life.

Noomi Rapace is being eyed for a supporting role, possibly as Hendrix’s former girlfriend Kathy Etchingham, who the closely resembles the Swedish actress.

UTA, which represents rising star Mackie, is handling sales for the project, which is among the hottest being shopped at Cannes, though it remains unclear when production is expected to start.

Mackie is currently in negotiations to star alongside Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon Levitt in Jonathan Levine’s untitled Sony comedy set on Christmas Eve in New York City