Trailer for Don Shirley Biopic Green Book, Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen

The trailer has dropped for Green Book, an upcoming comedy-drama focusing on the odd couple relationship between jazz pianist Don Shirley (Moonlight's Mahershala Ali) and New York nightclub bouncer Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen, Lord of the Rings).

Inspired by a true story, the film sees the black Shirley hire Lip as a chauffeur and protection as he embarked on a tour of the deep south of the US.

The movie is from Peter Farrelly, a change in pace for the filmmaker who previously directed slapstick comedies such as Dumb and Dumber, There's Something About Mary and Shallow Hal with his brother Bobby.

Farrelly also co-wrote the screenplay with Brian Hayes Currie and Nick Vallelonga, the latter is the son of Tony Lip on whom the film is based.

Shirley performed as a soloist and as a member of several symphonies, including the Boston Pops, Detroit Symphony, Chicago Symphony, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington. He also composed several organ symphonies, a piano concerto, two string quartets, and numerous pieces for piano.

Meanwhile Lip became best known for his portrayal of crime boss Carmine Lupertazzi in the HBO series The Sopranos, as well as for gangster roles in Donnie Brasco and Goodfellas.

Green Book will premiere at TIFF next month, followed by an Irish cinema release on February 8, 2019.

The trailer for Green Book is available to watch below.