I don't know if you are aware of this, but director Oliver Stone is making a film about our current president George W. Bush.
The film will be called 'W' and casting has gotten underway with Josh Brolin ('No Country For Old Men') selected to play Bush and Elizabeth Banks cast as First Lady Laura Bush.
The movie will look at Bush's formative years and path to the presidency -- as well as his life inside the White House.
In case you were wondering as to other casting roles, 'The Hollywood Reporter' is stating that Thandie Newton is in final negotiations to star as Condoleezza Rice, the National Security Advisor-turned-Secretary of State.
Meanwhile, Ioan Gruffudd is in final talks to play former British prime minister Tony Blair.
James Cromwell and Ellen Burstyn had previously been cast as George Sr. and Barbara Bush, respectively.
Also notable is the fact that Newton, who was born in Zambia and raised in England, is a Brit, making her the first non-American to be cast for a role in the U.S. administration. Gruffudd is also a Brit and is of course playing a Brit.
Newton has previously had roles in 'The Pursuit of Happyness,' 'Norbit,' 'Mission Impossible: II' and the title role in the Jonathan Demme-helmed drama 'Beloved.'
She's currently starring in Picturehouse's 'Run Fatboy Run' (in theaters now) and will be featured in fellow Brit Guy Ritchie's forthcoming mob pic 'RocknRolla.'
Stone's 'W' is expected to start shooting shortly, with QED and Stone's own Ixtlan banner producing and QED financing. Bill Block, Moritz Borman and Jon Kilik are producers.
As one of the few cabinet members to serve during both Bush terms, Rice's role in the Bush White House is seen as pivotal.
According to those who've read the 'W' script, Rice is said to be in a key first scene as well as a number of scenes connected to the Iraq war. Blair also appears in Iraq-related scenes.
Stone has said he wants to draw a fair-minded portrait of the polarizing figure. Sources familiar with the script say Bush is depicted as an easily distracted figure predisposed to personal agendas, though they say the script occasionally shows a more sympathetic side.
Among the key 'W' roles yet to be cast are those of Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and Karl Rove.
And maybe -- just maybe -- former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
A Coifed Condi
- A Coifed Condi
Keep It Simple
Condoleezza Rice at the United Nations in July 2006 to discuss Hezbollah and conflict in Israel and the Middle East. AFP / Getty Images - A Coifed Condi
Peace In the Middle East
Rice attends a White House meeting in July 2006 with Saudi diplomats to discuss the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah fighters ahead of Rice's trip to the region. Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images - A Coifed Condi
Upswept
Condoleezza Rice officiates at the swearing in ceremony for the new ambassador to Afghanistan Ronald Neumann July 27, 2005. Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images - A Coifed Condi
The Horizon
Condoleezza Rice testifies before the House of Representatives Committee on International Relations. Rice was before the committee to discuss President George W. Bush's budget request for Fiscal Year 2007. Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images - A Coifed Condi
Werq.
State Secretary Condoleezza Rice arrives at an international conference on Iraq at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels June 2005. Benoit Doppagne, AFP / Getty Images - A Coifed Condi
Intense
Rice listens to a speech during the final session of the Special Summit of the Americas, January 2004 in Monterrey, Mexico. Yuri Cortez, AFP, Getty Images - A Coifed Condi
Flipped and Lovely
Rice, the former provost of Stanford University (1993-1999), at the 33rd NAACP Image Awards February 2002. Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage.com - A Coifed Condi
Brown and Straight
Condoleezza Rice succeeded Gen. Colin Powell as the 66th Secretary of State on January 26 2005. AP - A Coifed Condi
Part on Right
Rice speaks on climate change at the U.N. (''Innovating a climate-friendly world: The role of technology and dissemination'') in Sept. 2007. David Karp, AP - A Coifed Condi
All Smiles
Condoleezza Rice as foreign policy advisor to George W. Bush. AP
Comments: (66)
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By: Jarobie Anderson on 4/06/2008 7:42PM
No disrespect to Condoleezza but Thandie Newton is way too fine to play that role.
http://www.blacknews4us.com/
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By: Cecil Jones on 4/07/2008 4:56AM
What's the rush to tell the story on the Bush administration? It's a rush to control the legacy of this man. The spin is necessary to protect him as a private citizen from the damage done by the lies told in his foreign policy. The Constitution is broken, but Al Qaeda didn't do it. Our soldiers are disrespected and treated like pawns in a patriotic battle for the hearts, votes, and minds of "We the Sheeple." Condi Rice broke the law talking about we needed to see a shift to get missile defense funding. This is like telling some maniac it's okay to do your thing because America will forgive you if they see a larger threat. Missile defense technology can be applied to international commerce in different ways. If we can shoot down a missile, and the operative word is "If"; then we can stop all air traffic in and out of any nation we desire. Changing the game doesn't make us safer, it just changes the game. The need to defend against a missile strike means that someone is at war and trying to destroy us. Should the government promise they can stop the threat if they couldn't protect us on 9-11? Can we trust them and should we encourage them?
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By: rubydee on 4/07/2008 2:12PM
Viola Davis or Alfre Woodard both fine actresses could have played this role, Halle Berri maybe, why some young foreigner with no clue who Condi Rice is until offered the part?
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By: DAVE on 4/07/2008 2:12PM
ANYTHING OLIVER STONE DOES IS LEFTIST LYING TRASH
I BET YOU NEVER SEE A DEMONCRAT FILM MADE BY HIM
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By: Shirley Berger on 4/07/2008 2:17PM
In case we forgot, Condi Rice as National Security Advisor in "Shrub's" first term ignored the August memo they received warning of the 9/11 attack!!!!
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By: Alex on 4/07/2008 2:20PM
Paris Hilton NAKED again:
http://celebritiesvidz.com/videos.php?v=Paris_Hilton
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By: Mark Elliott on 4/07/2008 2:41PM
Who was the idiot casting director on this deal. Omarosa should have gotten the role. Thandie is too
hot to play Cunnilingus Rice!!!
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By: Don on 4/07/2008 2:41PM
If left wingnut stone is making the film, it doesnt mater who he gets to play Condi or anyone else, no one will see the idiots film anyway.
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By: JOHN SMITH on 4/07/2008 2:47PM
EVERY ANTI-WAR FILM HAS BOMBED WITH CUBAN'S MOVIE MAKING A GRAND 65 THOUSAND DOLLARS......OLIVER STONE IS PICTURED COOING AND ARSE KISSING COMMUNIST SOCIALIST CHAVEZ THE FOLLYWOOD CROWD ARE TOO IN LOVE WITH COMMUNISM AND THEY DON'T MIND THE COMMUNISTS INVOLVED IN TERRORISM........CHAVEZ IS INVOLVED WITH FARC COMMUNISTS THAT HAD OBAMA'S NAME LISTED ON THEM WITH DEMOCRATIC GRINGO'S ASSURING THE COMMUNISTS THAT OBAMA WOULD NOT HELP OUR ALLY COLOMBIA....THIS MOVE IS ANOTHER PIECE OF LIBERAL TRASH - TRYING TO PROPAGANIZE THEIR LIBERAL STAND.....IT WILL GO BUST... AMERICANS SMARTENED UP.....JUST LIKE ALL THEIR OTHER POLITICAL MOVIES....BUST.....- NO ONE LISTENS TO ANY MORE AND THEY SHOULDN'T...JUST LIBERAL PROPAGANDA.....
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By: P. Barrett on 4/07/2008 2:51PM
I don't think any actress out there could capture that soul-less expression of Rice- dead shark eyes, no feelings, no signs of life - she gives off bad vibes even when she smiles.... scary.
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