'The Butler' starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey acquired by Weinstein Co.
Latest film from 'Precious' director Lee Daniels boasts an all-star cast
First image of Forest Whitaker as the title character in Lee Daniels' "The Butler."
"The Butler" is ready to serve American audiences.
Director Lee Daniels' ("Precious") latest film has found a home, with The Weinstein Co. acquiring the historical drama for U.S. distribution. The film is based on the life of White House butler Eugene Allen, who worked for eight U.S. presidents and possessed a "unique vantage point" from which to observe radical changes in American society during his more than 30-year tenure at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Based on a 2008 Washington Post article by Wil Haygood,"The Butler" was co-scripted by Danny Strong and stars Forest Whitaker as Allen surrogate Cecil Gaines, alongside an extensive all-star cast that includes Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, John Cusack (as Richard Nixon), Nelsan Ellis (Martin Luther King, Jr.), Jane Fonda (Nancy Reagan), Cuba Gooding, Jr., Terrence Howard, Minka Kelly (Jackie Kennedy), Lenny Kravitz, Melissa Leo (Mamie Eisenhower), James Marsden (John F. Kennedy), David Oyelowo, Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Redgrave, Alan Rickman (Ronald Reagan), Liev Schreiber (Lyndon B. Johnson) and Robin Williams (Dwight D. Eisenhower).
Related
-
Mariah Carey re-teaming with 'Precious' director for 'The Butler'
'American Idol' judge joins Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey and more for new b...
Notably, "The Butler" is producer Laura Ziskin's ("Spider-Man," "To Die For") final film. The Hollywood veteran died of breast cancer last year at the age of 61.
Daniels' "The Paperboy" starring Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron and Matthew McConaughey premiered to mixed critical notices at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year (In Contention's Guy Lodge said it "straddles the line between trash and treat" in his review). The film is slated to play the New York Film Festival before premiering in limited release on October 5.
"The Butler" is currently in production in New Orleans. There is no release date set at this time.
Will you be seeing "The Butler"?
Follow me on Twitter @HitFixChris
Trending Now on HitFix Boards
| Topic | Started By | Latest Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|---|
| sandylewis90 |
2 months ago
|
1
|
|
| sandylewis90 |
4 months ago
|
1
|
|
| Discuss Movies General on HitFix Message Boards » | |||
News From Our Partners
-
The Telefile - The Most Heinous Person on Reality TV This Week
The Telefile - Modern Family: The Best Lines of the Night
The Telefile - Fall TV 2013: What's On When
-
The Future Of Olivia And Fitz, And More Season 3 Scoop
SPOILER ALERT: What's Ahead In 'Nikita' Season 4?
Google Glass Does Porn
-
Beyonce Pregnant Again? Sources Confirm 'Epic' Star Is Carrying Baby No. 2
'Hangover 3' Red Band Trailer: Take a Walk Down a NSFW Memory Lane (VIDEO)
Why 'Man of Steel' Didn't Use 'Superman' in the Title
-
What to Watch This Weekend: The Season Finales of Nikita, Doctor Who, The Simpsons, and Family Guy
The Office Series Finale Review: That'll Do, Show. That'll Do.
Syfy Renews Warehouse 13 for a Fifth and Final Season
-
Weekly Ketchup: Will Smith to Star in Wild Bunch Remake?
Critics Consensus: Star Trek Into Darkness is Certified Fresh
Red Carpet Roundup: Star Trek Into Darkness Edition
-
How Far Will 'Star Trek Into Darkness' Boldly Go At Box Office?
'Star Trek Into Darkness': The Secret Behind The Mystery Villain
'Pacific Rim' Trailer Surfaces: Watch Now!
-
Cannes Film Festival: Cannes 2013, Day Three: Cheers for the young stars of The Selfish Giant, jeers for the new films by Hirokazu Kore-eda and Arnaud Desplechin
Hear This: Destroy This Place shows how press releases can get it right
Watch This: With Beavis And Butt-head Do America, Mike Judge skewered the idiocy of cinematic adventures
-
Can You Guess Which Celebrity Lives in This Mansion?
Macklemore + Ryan Lewis Cover Billboard, Recall the Glory Days of Drugs, Myspace + More
Lady Gaga Wears Sky High Heels to Versace Party [Pic]
Comments
Option 1
Comment instantly as a guest GuestOption 2
Option 3
Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupDC
November 7, 2012 at 1:47PM EST Reply to CommentFirst 'The Help' now 'The Butler'....Seems Hollywood is making a 360 back to earlier trends concerning black roles....
Juanita
March 9, 2013 at 1:33PM EST Reply to CommentLooking forward to seeing "The Butler." Lee Daniels is a brilliantt director. I'm sure Forest, Oprah & Terrence will be great in this movie.