Michael Keaton in Talks to Play Ken Feinberg in Biopic What Is Life Worth

Academy Award-nominated actor Michael Keaton is in negotiations to play real-life D.C. lawyer Ken Feinberg in director David Frankel’s What Is Life Worth, per THR. The film will be based on the lawyer’s own memoir of the same title. Feinberg was in charge of the 9/11 Fund and spent three years doing pro bono work on the case. Through fighting off the cynicism and politics associated with administering government funds, he discovers what life is actually worth.

The Academy Award-winning producer of Spotlight, Michael Sugar, will produce What Is Life Worth alongside Marc Butan (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), newcomers Sean Sorensen and Max Borenstein (who adapted the film’s script), and Bard Dorros (partner at Anonymous Content). Riverstone Productions (Wind River) will finance the film. This marks the second time Keaton and Sugar will work directly together.

Keaton was nominated for an Academy Award for 2014’s Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and recently wrapped on Disney’s live-action, Tim Burton-helmed production of Dumbo. Keaton recently starred in American Assassin with Dylan O’Brian, Spider-Man: Homecoming with Tom Holland and 2015’s Oscar-winning Spotlight.

Frankel is best known for directing the delightful comedy The Devil Wears Prada with Meryl Streep and the family comedy Marley & Me with Owen Wilson. He also directed Streep in Hope Springs and recently penned the drama Collateral Beauty. He won an Emmy for directing HBO’s limited series Band of Brothers and won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 1997 for Dear Diary.

Additional casting on What Is Life Worth is currently underway.