Ford will play baseball executive Branch Rickey while Chadwick Boseman has been cast as the iconic sportsman Robinson.

Rickey rebelled against Major League Baseball’s colour barrier when he signed Robinson to a minor league contract in 1945. Legendary involved Robinson’s widow Rachel Robinson in the development process.

Boseman is best known for his performance in The Express for Universal while Ford most recently starred in Cowboys & Aliens

Brian Helgeland will write and direct and Legendary chairman and CEO Thomas Tull will produce with chief creative officer and president Jon Jashni serving as executive producer alongside former Disney chairman Dick Cook.