Actor Don Cheadle is to play jazz legend Miles Davis in a new biopic he will also direct.

The Ocean's Eleven star joined members of the late musician's family at the launch of a new Davis art book in Los Angeles last week (ends08Nov13) and now BiFrost Pictures executives have announced that they have partnered with him for new film Kill The Trumpet Player.

Cheadle has been trying to get the project off the ground for several years and it will serve as his directorial debut.

Ewan MCGregor will co-star and Zoe Saldana has been cast as Davis' wife Frances.

Miles Davis died in 1991 at the age of 65.