Production has started on Rob Reiner’s (The Bucket List) upcoming Lyndon Johnson biopic, LBJ. With production starting, new photo of Woody Harrelson (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2) as the former president has already been released through Entertainment Weekly.
Reiner is directing the film that will be based on a first-time feature script written by Joey Hartstone. The film follows Johnson’s political life from 1959 to 1964 including his vice presidency and presidency following John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Jeffrey Donovan (Sicario), Kim Allen (Lyle), Bill Pullman (Independence Day: Resurgence) and Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight) also star in the film.
A self-proclaimed liberal, Reiner has gone on record as saying he’s grown to better understand the struggles Johnson faced with the Vietnam War and filling JFK’s shoes. Tom Wilkinson (Snowden) most notably played President Johnson in the Martin Luther King Jr. biopic Selma. The character’s portrayal as a staunch opponent to King caused some controversy for its historical accuracy.
No official release date has been announced for LBJ but the film is expected sometime in 2016.
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