Talkback: Bill Murray as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Totally Random or Just Right?
Just last Friday, Movieline's casting department notified you that Notting Hill director Roger Michell was on the lookout for an actor to play Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his romantic drama Hyde Park On Hudson. Our casting execs were thinking of someone along the lines of James Cromwell or Jon Voight again, but apparently Michell and UK's Film4 had a completely different actor in mind for the movie. Ladies and gentleman, meet the up-and-comer who will be playing the next Franklin D. Roosevelt: Bill Murray! Join as after the jump to share your thoughts on this surprise casting choice.
A few talking points first...
· Given Murray's spotty track record, do you think this project will actually end up shooting or will it end up in a Ghostbusters 3-like production hell?
· Michell has yet to cast Eleanor Roosevelt and FDR's distant cousin, Margaret "Daisy" Stuckley. Which leading ladies would you like to see opposite Murray in this historical drama?
· The entire film allegedly takes place in one weekend in June of 1939 when the British King and Queen visit Roosevelt at his cottage in upstate New York. Do you think this snapshot historical drama could be the film that finally earns Murray an Oscar?
· Bill Murray Will Play FDR [Vulture]
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Comments
What does this do with previous reports Bill Muray will be in Wes Anderson's movie? Does this mean those plans are kaplooey? Huffington Post was hinting in twitter about Anderson's movie with "...if he shows up", Maybe they were on to something.
He would be perfect!
Moonrise Kingdom shoots this spring, Hyde Park on Hudson in July. Word has it, Murray is already in Rhode Island where they are to shoot MK.
Murray would have to do something different for him, as an actor.
Roosevelt wasn't sullen. Or suffering from ennui. And he didn't smirk. He was charismatic.
I'm trying to be open-minded about this but it will be incredibly difficult to take this movie seriously.