Baldwin Entertainment Group, the people behind 2004's critically acclaimed biopic 'Ray' have announced that they will now be working on a film about the life of former Brooklyn Dodgers star Jackie Robinson. Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball in 1947.

Robert Redford will co-produce. He will also play Branch Rickey, the general manager of the Dodgers who signed Robinson to a major league contract in 1946. Redford had previously starred in the fictional baseball drama 'The Natural.'

This will be our next `Ray,'' producer Howard Baldwin told the Associated Press. 'This is one of the most important stories not just in sports, but in our history.'

'See what Jackie Robinson went through,' Baldwin said. 'You just have to say, how did this man have enough poise and sophistication and the courage to realize that for the good of mankind, for the good of his race, he had to succeed. And he didn't just succeed. He was a great, great baseball player.'

The project has the blessing and support of Robinson's widow Rachel and Branch Rickey, Jr., the son of the late Dodgers GM. Executives from Major League Baseball are also expected to cooperate with the project.

Robinson starred as himself in 'The Jackie Robinson Story' with Ruby Dee which was released in 1950.

This film is expected to start production early in 2006 with a late 2006 or early 2007 release date expected.

Baldwin hinted that he might want to work with actor Jamie Foxx again on this project. 'At the appropriate time, we'd be nuts not to want to talk to Jamie,' Baldwin admitted. Foxx won the Academy Award for his performance as Ray Charles in 'Ray.'