Who Would Play Jackie Robinson?

In reading about the various celebrations that are taking place in honor of Jackie Robinson, I learned that ESPN has won the rights to do a feature film on the Hall of Famer and racial pioneer. The venerable Robert Redford will direct and play Branch Rickey. Redford's acting and directing accomplishments are unquestioned, and he has experience doing a baseball film (The Natural), but I have a hard time picturing him in the role of Rickey. Will he put the weight on naturally, or use some sort of prosthetic? That may be a tough one to pull off.

More to the point, I wonder who will play Robinson in the film. As an iconic figure who was photographed often during his adult life, Robinson would create challenges for even the most experienced of actor. The actor will not only need to be African American (a brilliant deduction), but will also have to replicate Robinson's beefy build and athleticism (a tough combination) and try to match his unique, high-pitched voice. Who would be the right choice? A headliner like Denzel Washington would help the film enormously--at least from a commercial standpoint--but he strikes me as too lean and athletic to replicate Robinson. Don Cheadle is an enormously talented actor, but he's too small and frail to make a believable Robinson. On the other hand, Lawrence Fishburne might be too big for the role--literally. How about Jamie Foxx? Oh please, don't get me started.

After considering some of thes A-listers, an actor from a lower rung (but still extremely talented) came to mind. How about Andre Braugher of Homicide fame? The underrated Braugher is accomplished at serious roles, has extensive experience on both the big and small screens, and owns the same kind of stocky build that Robinson carried during his major league days. And at age 45, Braugher is still young enough to pull off Robinson in his younger days, perhaps with only a small boost of makeup.

Come to think of it, Braugher has already played Robinson, albeit in a small television film that appeared in 1990. (Thanks, IMDB.) That film centered on Robinson's court martial. Given that experience, an older and more mature Braugher would seem ready for a full-length biopic on Robinson.

Yes, I like Braugher in the title role. Then again, I've never cast a film, not even a cheap one made for television. If you were in charge of a Robinson film, who would you cast in the lead role?