Pictures of young Leonard Bernstein show why Bradley Cooper is right for the Maestro role

Bradley Cooper is set to take on the role of Leonard Bernstein in the Netflix film Maestro, and pictures of the young conductor show Cooper is the perfect casting choice.

The first trailer for the Netflix biopic Maestro has gone online and while there is ongoing controversy over Bradley Cooper’s use of a prosthetic nose, images of young Leonard Bernstein reveal that Cooper bears an incredible resemblance to the acclaimed conductor, composer and musician.

A young Leonard Bernstein in 1944

The first image of Leonard Bernstein we wanted to look at is from 1944, when he was assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Portrait of Bernstein against a plain background shows him with neatly styled hair and a smart light colored suit complemented by a contrasting black tie.

Of course, the controversial prosthetic nose adds to Cooper’s resemblance to the young Leonard Bernstein, particularly in the image below where the actor looks to the side.

But when combined with his equally well styled hair, which is cut identically at the temples and ears, there is an impressive resemblance.

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Portrait around 1945

Next we have another portrait of a young Leonard Bernstein, believed to have been taken around 1945.

The image shows Bernstein in a plaid shirt with a cigarette between his fingers, something you probably see a lot with Maestro as the composer was known to be a heavy smoker.

Once again, the hair and makeup team deserves credit for their ability to refine Bradley Cooper’s look, as the image below further highlights the pair’s incredible resemblance.

However, the biggest difference between Leonard Bernstein and the actor who plays him is that Bradley Cooper’s cheekbones are more prominent, meaning Cooper is still somewhat recognizable despite the hair, makeup, and prosthetics used in the film.

Maestro release date and plot preview

Maestro will be released in select theaters on November 22, 2023, while the film will be released on Netflix a month later on December 20.

The film tells the incredible story of music icon Leonard Bernstein and his lifelong relationship with his fearless wife, Felicia Montealegre.

A love letter to life and the arts, Maestro delves into the composer’s incredible career behind West Side Story and the complicated personal life he led.

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Maestro hits select theaters on November 22, 2023 ahead of the film’s shooting available for streaming on Netflix itself on December 20th.

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