Sam Rockwell is in final negotiations to play George W. Bush in Adam McKay’s Dick Cheney biopic, “Cheney,” an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
Rockwell joins the already announced cast of Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Amy Adams and Bill Pullman. Bale plays the former Wyoming congressman turned powerful vice president.
McKay will direct from a screenplay he wrote. Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner are producing through their Plan B along with McKay and his Gary Sanchez partners, Will Ferrell and Kevin Messick. The project is looking at a production start date later this September.
Rockwell will next star in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” which will have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 4 before it gets its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
He also just wrapped production on “Woman Walks Ahead” alongside Jessica Chastain and is now shooting “The Best of Enemies” with Taraji P. Henson.
Rockwell is represented by Gersh, ID PR and Untitled Entertainment.
As Bush’s vice president, Cheney was one of the most influential voices in the White House and the architect of the Bush administration’s foreign policy, which included wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Before his vice presidency, his roles included serving as the chairman and CEO of oil company Halliburton.
The Hollywood Reporter first reported the talks.