Laszlo Barna’s Pier 21 Films has tapped Rick Roberts and Sook-Yin Lee to play Jack Layton and Olivia Chow in the CBC telefilm Smilin’ Jack:  The Jack Layton Story.

The project, a co-production with Winnipeg-based indie producer Eagle Vision, follows the 2011 election campaign that had the late Jack Layton on crutches, but about to lead the NDP party into the official opposition in Ottawa.

Rick Roberts

The ensemble cast includes Wendy Crewson and Erin Karpluk.

Andrew Wreggitt and Shelley Eriksen wrote the script for Smilin’ Jack: The Jack Layton Story, which is being directed Jeff Woolnough as it shoots in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Executive producers are Barna for Pier 21 and Lisa Meeches and Kyle Irving for Eagle Vision.