Hugh Jackman let slip that he’ll be on the side of the “antagonists” in the Paul Webb scripted/Lee Daniels directed Selma. The Aussie will play sheriff Clark and thus becomes the third actor to join the project – Bobby De Niro playing Governor George Wallace, and Lenny Kravitz plays activist Andrew Young, but there are a batch of bigger roles that have yet to be filled including the man of the hour, Martin Luther King. Once cast, that role will be deemed as the Oscar bait role for the Oscars in 2012 – around the time where Obama’s 1st term will end.
On the antagonist’s side we have Lyndon B. Johnson and J. Edgar Hoover (this is the second time we mention this historical figure today) and keeping with the three letter abbreviations, we have the folks who wear the white hoods. The Black List script is a solid read, a pace that is in constant movement — it reminded me of Paul Greengrass’ Bloody Sunday — coincidently both events took place on the last day of the week. It’s definitely a rocky boat interpretation of the historical events – I especially like how the tension build-up affects the war room like convos between Hoover and Johnson.
Anyone think that this will put Daniels back in the winner’s circle? And who would you cast as Hoover circa 1965?
