Parker Sawyers to Play Barack Obama in ‘Southside With You’
Actor joins Tika Sumpter who will play Michelle Obama in film based on early courtship of First Couple
Linda Ge | May 7, 2015 @ 10:06 AM
Last Updated: May 7, 2015 @ 2:51 PM
Parker Sawyers has been cast to play a young Barack Obama in “Southside With You,” the drama based on the courtship of Barack and Michelle Obama, IM Global announced Thursday.
Sawyers joins Tika Sumpter, who will play Michelle.
The film covers the eventful date in 1989 when a young associate named Barack Obama was trying to woo lawyer Michelle Robinson on a summer afternoon and evening, that took them from the Art Institute of Chicago to a screening of Spike Lee‘s “Do the Right Thing” to the site of their first kiss outside of an ice cream parlor.
Richard Tanne makes his directorial debut with the project based on his screenplay, which will be produced by Bob Teitel, with IM Global’s Founder and CEO Stuart Ford, President of Production Matt Jackson, SVP of Production Glendon Palmer and Tracy Bing on board as executive producers.
Sawyers most recently completed filming on Oliver Stone‘s “Snowden” with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He can soon be seen in Universal thriller “Spectral” and “Monsters: Dark Continent,” the sequel to Gareth Edwards’ “Monsters.” He is represented by 42 and NB Management.
President Barack Obama Speaks at DreamWorks (Photos)
President Obama quotes Roger Ebert in speech about the economy.
“I was fortunate enough to get to know Roger, and was always inspired by how he handled some really tough stuff,” Obama said. “He said, ‘Kindness covers all of my political beliefs.’ … When I think about what I’m fighting for, what gets me up every single day — that captures it.”
“Believe it or not, entertainment is, in some ways, part of American diplomacy,” he said. “Entertainment is one of America’s biggest exports.”
President Obama greets the crowd after finishing his speech.
President Obama gets a kiss from a supporter while greeting the crowd after stepping down from the podium.
President Obama watches Steve Martin and Jim Parsons perform their voices for characters in DreamWorks Animation production "Home."
President Obama visits actors Steve Martin and Jim Parsons on the set of upcoming DreamWorks animation film "Home."
President Obama gives Steve Martin some bow.
President Obama on the set of "How to Train Your Dragon 2."
President Obama with "How to Train Your Dragon 2" director Dean DeBlois.
President Obama observes the motion-capture process with DreamWorks animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg.
President Obama applauds motion capture performers on the set of "How to Train Your Dragon 2."
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The POTUS toured the animation studio in Glendale on Tuesday before giving a speech on the nation’s economy
President Obama quotes Roger Ebert in speech about the economy.
