Jennifer Jason Leigh has joined the cast of Rob Reiner‘s upcoming film LBJ, as Lady Bird Johnson.
Leigh joins a cast that already includes Woody Harrelson, Michael Stahl-David (In Your Eyes), Richard Jenkins (Lullaby), Bill Pullman (American Ultra) and Kim Allen (Lyle). LBJ will focus on the life of 36th America President, Lyndon B. Johnson and his meteoric rise to the oval office after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. Johnson was a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement as he signed many laws that prohibited discrimination based on one’s skin color but one of the blemishes on his legacy is his involvement in the Vietnam War.
Jennifer Jason Leigh will portray Johnson’s wife Lady Bird Johnson, born Claudia Alta Taylor. She married Johnson in 1934 and slowly grew into her role as a politician’s wife to First Lady. Leigh will next star in the upcoming Quentin Tarantino film The Hateful Eight. She has enjoyed a long career in Hollywood, first bursting onto the scene in the 1982 classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Rob Reiner is one of the most decorated directors of all time, with notable credits to his name such as Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men and probably his most famous film, When Harry Met Sally. Reiner will also serve as producer. Joey Hartstone penned the script while Matthew George, Liz Glotzer, Michael R. Williams, Tim White and Trevor White will produce the film.
Filming will begin this fall in New Orleans, Dallas and Washington D.C.