May 9, 2008 - Lionsgate announced they've acquired the North American, UK, Australian, and New Zealand distribution rights to what's sure to be a controversial film. Lionsgate snapped up Oliver Stone's W, a biopic about President George W Bush set to start filming this month in Louisiana. W will hit theaters on October 17, 2008.
Stone's directing the film from a screenplay by Stanley Weiser. Stone and Weiser previously collaborated on the 1987 drama Wall Street which starred Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas. Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men) will play President Bush, Elizabeth Banks is Laura Bush, James Cromwell plays the senior George Bush, and Ellen Burstyn will take on the role of Barbara Bush. W also features Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice, Jeffrey Wright as Colin Powell, Scott Glenn as Donald Rumsfeld, and Ioan Gruffudd as Tony Blair.
In a press release announcing the deal Stone said, "The impact of George W. Bush's presidency will be felt for many years to come. Despite a meteoric, almost illogical rise to power, and a tremendous influence on the world, we don't really know much about Mr. Bush beyond the controlled images we've been allowed to see on TV. This movie's taking a bold stab at looking behind that curtain. I'm real pleased that Lionsgate has the independence necessary to bring this provocative story to an American audience."
W Official Synopsis
"In an unprecedented undertaking, acclaimed director Oliver Stone is bringing the life of our 43rd President to the big screen as only he can. W takes viewers through Bush's eventful life - his struggles and triumphs, how he found both his wife and his faith, and of course the critical days leading up to Bush's decision to invade Iraq."
Source: Lionsgate
