Damien Chazelle, whose critically-acclaimed drama Whiplash hits theaters next month, has signed on to direct the Neil Armstrong biopic First Man for Universal Pictures.

Josh Singer (The Fifth Estate) has been tapped to write the adapted screenplay, based on James R. Hansen's book First Man: A Life of Neil A. Armstrong. The author was granted full access to Neil Armstrong's family and NASA when he wrote the book.

Before he made history as the first man to step on the moon in 1969, Neil Armstrong flew 78 missions as a Navy pilot before the age of 23. He also served as a test pilot in the 1950s before moving to NASA in the early 1960s. He quickly rose through the ranks at NASA to lead the Apollo 11 mission to the moon.

No production schedule was given, but this will not be up next for Damien Chazelle. The filmmaker will next take on the musical dramatic comedy La La Land, which has Miles Teller and Emma Watson attached to star.

Damien Chazelle made his directorial debut with Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench. He also wrote the scripts for Grand Piano and The Last Exorcism Part II.