Malcolm McDowell to Play Rupert Murdoch in Roger Ailes Film

McDowell joins Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and John Lithgow in cast

Rupert Murdoch Annapurna
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Malcolm McDowell has been cast to play Rupert Murdoch in Annapurna’s upcoming film about Fox News chief Roger Ailes, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.

McDowell joins Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, John Lithgow, Kate McKinnon and Allison Janney in the film, with Jay Roach (“Trumbo”) on to direct.

The untitled Annapurna Pictures’ film follows the ensemble of women who decided to take on the toxic male culture of Fox News and bring down network CEO Ailes.

The script is being penned by Academy Award-winner, Charles Randolph (“The Big Short”). Annapurna is producing the film along with Theron, Beth Kono, and AJ Dix of Denver and Delilah. Roach, Randolph and Lighthouse Management and Media’s Margaret Media are also producing.

Ailes resigned from Fox News in 2016 after Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit that resulted in multiple women coming forward with similar accusations. At the time, Ailes was considered the mastermind behind the success of Fox News and one of the most powerful men in both media and American politics.

Ailes was named the founding CEO of Fox News in 1996 and the network quickly gained popularity while he called the shots. Fox News is now among the most-watched networks in all of cable and dominates the cable news category.

Variety was first to report his casting.

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