With politics currently dominating the majority of the headlines around the globe, it’s perhaps unsurprising that filmmakers are gravitating towards past political transgressions as topics of developing projects. One such project – Linda and Monica – picked up some traction today as Deadline confirms that Amazon Studios has acquired the title, which focuses on the relationship between former White House aide Linda Tripp and Monica Lewinsky, the intern who infamously became engulfed in a scandal with former President Bill Clinton, one which eventually led to his impeachment.
A screenplay written by Flint Wainess, which was previously mentioned on the Black List of the best un-produced scripts in Hollywood, focuses on the relationship between Tripp and Lewinsky. As history has recorded, Tripp recorded conversations she had with a young Lewinsky which revealed a sexual relationship she had with the then president. Tripp then sent these recording to Kenneth Starr, the special prosecutor tasked with overseeing the investigation into Clinton’s Whitewater involvement. Tripp defended her actions, noting she was looking out for the best interests of Lewinsky, a friend. The ramifications of Tripp’s transgression lead, famously to a congressional call for Clinton’s impeachment as well as instability for Lewinsky, who found herself a media punching bag and had difficulty finding work after the scandal was made public.
The surely hot-button title appears still in its earliest stage and no director or casting announcements have been made. Yet, Linda and Monica shows a renewed interest in political fare, which is perhaps unsurprising given our current climate. Some other titles in the pipeline involving political scandals from the past include The Silent Man, bio of Mark Felt (aka Deep Throat during the Watergate scandal) starring Liam Neeson, an upcoming Steven Spielberg-helmed docudrama about the publishing of the Pentagon Papers with Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep attached to star as well as a new Michael Moore documentary entitled Fahrenheit 11/9 centering around the 2016 presidential election. Also in development is bio of former Vice President Dick Cheney from The Big Short director Adam McKay – that project has Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Steve Carell potentially tapped to star.
We will stay tuned to the latest on Linda and Monica.
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