Teller will reteam with his Whiplash director Chazelle on La La Land, which starts shooting in the spring. He’ll play a jazz pianist who falls for an aspiring actress, played by Emma Watson, in Los Angeles. Teller took piano lessons as a kid, but quit at 14 when the lessons got “too strict.” He took the role to not only reunite with Chazelle, but also play a piano man—and work with Watson, who recently impressed the actor with her powerful U.N. speech.
“Emma’s a very intelligent, incredible girl,” says Teller. “And I’ve always liked the piano. It’s cool to be the guy behind the keys singin’ away.”