"The Social Network" screenwriter Aaron Sorkin recently announced he'll make his directorial debut with a big-screen adaptation of "The Politician," Andrew Young's book about former Sen. John Edwards' sordid sex scandal involving Rielle Hunter.
Sorkin has done some of his best work in the political drama arena, having written "The American President" and "Charlie Wilson's War." He also created NBC's "The West Wing."
Deal Central consulted its inner casting director to fill the four main roles before Sorkin starts auditioning actors himself.
JOHN EDWARDS (age 57)
Michael Reilly Burke (40)
Tom Cruise (48)
Matt Damon (39)
Mel Gibson (54)
Aidan Gillen (42)
Greg Kinnear (47)
Peter Krause (44)
Edward Norton (40)
Chris O'Donnell (40)
Dennis Quaid (56)
James Spader (50)
Quaid's resemblance to Edwards is positively eerie, but it's Cruise who has the politician's electric but calculated smile down cold. However, Quaid just played Bill Clinton in "The Special Relationship" and previously played the president in "American Dreamz," while Cruise just played a U.S. senator in "Lions for Lambs." They might not have the urge to play another politician.
Damon and Norton are true chameleons who could have fun disappearing into this somewhat fascinating character. They're also on the younger side and may be too well known as movie stars.
Gibson might sell the most tickets, because who wouldn't pay to see that ... or the fewest, because on the other hand, who would?
It would be cool to see Spader return to steamy fare after "sex, lies and videotape," and likewise, Kinnear gave a memorable performance as sex addict Bob Crane in "Auto Focus."
Gillen did fantastic work as Baltimore Mayor Tommy Carcetti on HBO's "The Wire," and in that mold, Kinnear and O'Donnell would also work. Krause probably would be better than all of them, especially if his "Six Feet Under" co-star Michael C. Hall was cast as Andrew Young.
Still, it's "Desperate Housewives" actor Burke who strikes me as the best fit, largely thanks to his startling performance as two-faced sociopath Ted Bundy in a 2002 cheapo biopic that was similar to the Jeffrey Dahmer movie that launched "The Hurt Locker" star Jeremy Renner. Plus Burke is a relative unknown who wouldn't bring pre-existing baggage to his portrayal of Edwards.
ELIZABETH EDWARDS (age 61)
Mary Kay Place (62)
Cherry Jones (53)
Marsha Mason (68)
Kathleen Turner (56)
Barbra Streisand (68)
Dianne Wiest (62)
Kathy Bates (62)
Meryl Streep (61)
Annette Bening (52)
Cherry Jones, who played the president on "24," would be perfect for this role, which seems too tabloid-y for Oscar winners such as Streep, Streisand, Wiest and Bates. But "Big Love" star Place also could fit the bill, depending on who was cast as Edwards.
