In one of their characteristic 180-degree turns, the Coen brothers appear to be planning to follow up their successful western True Grit with a film about the New York coffeehouse folk scene of the 1950s and 60s. After reports last month that the Coens were planning a "music-based movie", the LA Times now suggests that the subject will be focused on the radical folk scene that nurtured Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell – and specifically on the cult figure of Dave Van Ronk.

Van Ronk, who died in 2002, was a key figure in the Greenwich Village folk scene, helping to revive traditional and blues music in the late 50s, and remaining involved in radical politics all his life. His memoirs, The Mayor of MacDougal Street, was published in 2005.

The Coens have previously focused on traditional Americana and roots music, notably with their 2000 film O Brother Where Art Thou? which helped to trigger a major bluegrass revival, after the release of its bestselling soundtrack album produced by T-Bone Burnett.