Emile Hirsch will play John Belushi in an upcoming biopic. The casting has been confirmed by TheWrap who have also provided details of the production. The film will be written and directed by Steve Conrad (The Pursuit of Happyness).

Emile Hirsch
Emile Hirsch has been cast as John Belushi in the upcoming biopic.

Belushi died in 1982 at the age of 33 of an accidental drug overdose. The comic is best known for his appearances on Saturday Night Live and in such films as The Blues Brothers. 

Hirsch, who has appeared in numerous films and television productions including Into the Wild and Bonnie and Clyde, will have to gain weight for the role as Belushi was, put politely, slightly rotund. 28-year-old Hirsch has been in a few comedies, however he will be given the opportunity to prove the true range of his acting skills with the upcoming Belushi biopic. Hirsch has also appeared in a number of true life biopics including Into the Wild in which he played athlete Christopher McCandless. 

John Belushi
John Belushi's widow is producing the movie.

Belushi's short life has been the subject of another film Wired in 1989, in which he was played by Michael Chiklis. The film was a flop and has yet to be released on to DVD. As such the upcoming film will be arguably the first biopic of Belushi's life. 

The 1989 film did not have the support of Belushi's friends and family; fortunately this upcoming biopic does. Belushi's widow Judy Belushi Pisano and his Blues Brothers co-star Dan Aykroyd are producing the film. The film will be based on the book penned by Belushi Pisano, according to reports in E!.

Production will begin next Spring in New York. 

Emile Hirsch
Emile Hirsch is best known for his role in Into the Wild.