Jane Fonda to play Nancy Reagan in Lee Daniels' 'The Butler'
Forest Whitaker closing a deal to lead cast that could include MIla Kunis, Hugh Jackman and Liam Neeson
Jane Fonda
Just say yes to this bit of casting news: Two-time Oscar winner Jane Fonda has signed on to play former first lady Nancy Reagan in the drama "The Butler," from "Precious" director Lee Daniels.
Nancy, of course, was the wife of two-termer Ronald Reagan, and dominated 1980s drug war discourse with her famous "just say no" campaign.
According to Variety, Fonda would be one of many stars playing presidents or their wives in the film, which is based on a Washington Post story by Wil Haygood that centers on Eugene Allen, who served as the White House butler for no less than eight presidents between 1952 to 1986.
Oscar winner Forest Whitaker ("The Last King of Scotland") is close to closing a deal to play the title role, with David Oyelowo negotiating to play his son, and Oprah Winfrey in talks to play the role of Allen's wife.
On the presidential side, Liam Neeson is in reportedly in talks to tackle Lyndon B. Johnson, while John Cusack is circling the role of the oft-portrayed Richard Nixon. Meanwhile, Mila Kunis and Hugh Jackman were reported to be in talks to play Jackie Kennedy and John F. Kennedy.
Fonda, whose last film was 2007's "Georgia Rule," abstained from starring in films for most of the '90s and '00s, and seems to be making up for lost time. She has two films in the can (the upcoming "Love, Peace and Misunderstanding" and the in-limbo "...And If We All Lived Together"), and will appear on Aaron Sorkin's new HBO series "Newsroom."
In the 1970s and '80s, she starred in films such as "Julia," "On Golden Pond" and "Agnes of God," and picked up best actress statuettes for her work in 1971's "Klute" and 1978's "Coming Home."
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Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupJuju McBean
March 27, 2012 at 2:16PM EST Reply to CommentThey will have to use a lot of makeup to turn beautiful Jane Fonda into that hideous Reagan troll doll.
Henderson juju... you're an asshole
March 28, 2012 at 1:02AM ESTJosh
March 27, 2012 at 3:07PM EST Reply to CommentWow...Fox News is gonna have an aneurysm.
Sindi
March 27, 2012 at 3:18PM EST Reply to CommentThey will have to use alot of makeup to turn that traitor "Hanoi Jane" into Nacny Reagan.
tl
March 27, 2012 at 5:28PM EST Reply to CommentShe is a trader to our country why would anyone want her to portray any important person of your country. To bad Bin Laddan wasn't alive maybe he could have a role also.
farmgirl
March 27, 2012 at 6:19PM EST Reply to CommentJane Fonda to play Nancy Reagan? Are you kidding me?
Hanoi Jane? I will definitely NOT see this film and will encourage my family and friends to boycott this film as well. Farmgirl!
farmgirl
March 27, 2012 at 6:21PM EST Reply to CommentHanoi Jane to play Nancy Reagan? Really? I will encourage my family and friends to boycott this film.
Kalnie
March 27, 2012 at 9:19PM EST Reply to CommentShe only did the role as a liberal political move. Liberal's support Jane Fonda and would love to paint a dark picture of her. Mrs. Reagan was and is a true American. Jane is best known as a communist.
Kalnie
March 27, 2012 at 9:26PM EST Reply to CommentPresident Reagan will always be admired and so will his beautiful wife. They brought class to the White House.
Jane Fonda brought disgrace to this country.
Henderson She also disgraced herself and only allegedly apologized in 2004 when she was stumping for a movie she made. She can say she's sorry a million times and we all know it's a lot of bullshit. To see her cavorting all over the enemy's turret machine gun makes me throw up for her utter lack of patriotism.
March 28, 2012 at 1:00AM ESTEugene Varcados
March 28, 2012 at 12:14AM EST Reply to CommentHow ironic that a woman who's responsible for the torture, maiming and death of Vietnam Prisoners of War would be cast as the wife of one of our most patriotic Presidents. If this woman appears in this role I will boycott this movie as I have all her previous ones.
R Burns
March 29, 2012 at 3:37PM EST Reply to CommentThis is absolutely incredible and outrageous !! This self righteous TRAITOR needs to be tried for the war crimes against our country and the caused torture and killing of American POW's She needs a free ticket to Hell. It is disgraceful to permit her to portray a person of dignity.