Moviefone Editorial

Tag: politics

  • Kevin Costner May Play Bill Clinton in New TV Series

    (Left) Kevin Costner arrives at the 15th Governors Awards in the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, November 17, 2024. Credit/Provider: Mark Von Holden / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) President Bill Clinton. Photo: Shutterstock.
    (Left) Kevin Costner arrives at the 15th Governors Awards in the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, November 17, 2024. Credit/Provider: Mark Von Holden / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) President Bill Clinton. Photo: Shutterstock.

    Preview:

    • Kevin Costner and Leonardo DiCaprio are developing at TV show about the United Nations
    • ‘United’ would focus on specific events in the organization’s history.
    • Costner would play Bill Clinton.

    While you might think Kevin Costner would have enough on his hands trying to get more of his ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ Western movies to screens, he’s found time for other projects.

    Deadline reports that Costner, along with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way company, is developing ‘United,’ a new TV series which will chronicle different real-life issues tackled by the United Nations.

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    The plan is that Costner will also play President Bill Clinton in the show, with Deadline reporting that ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s Chukwudi Iwuji will be UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

    Related Article: Jake Gyllenhaal and Kevin Costner on for Dramedy ‘Honeymoon with Harry’

    What’s the story of ‘United’?

    (L to R) Alec Baldwin and President Bill Clinton at 'Alec Baldwin: One Night Stand'. Photo: Comedy Central.
    (L to R) Alec Baldwin and President Bill Clinton at ‘Alec Baldwin: One Night Stand’. Photo: Comedy Central.

    The project is written and will be directed by David Raymond (‘Night Hunter’), who partnered with the UN’s Creative Community Outreach Initiative during the tenure of previous UN Secretary Ban Ki-Moon and has been working with them ever since, unearthing true stories that highlight the power of shared humanity. It’s being approached as an ongoing series dramatizing true stories of the courage and sacrifice that humanitarian staff continuously make around the world.

    The presumed focus is the 1999 uprising in East Timor, which took place following a UN-organized independence referendum in the territory. East Timor was a Portuguese colony up until 1975, briefly asserting independence before being annexed by Indonesia, in an invasion supported by the administration of U.S. President Gerald Ford.

    In subsequent decades, those in the territory endured military repression, famine and widespread human-rights abuses. But by the late ’90s, Indonesia was politically weakened, and the people of East Timor were allowed to vote on whether to remain within Indonesia or become independent.

    President Clinton and his staff were instrumental in de-escalating the situation in East Timor after the initial referendum, liaising with leaders in Australia, Portugal and other countries affiliated with the UN to pull it off.

    The series is slated to shoot in Atlanta and Spain next year.

    When might ‘United’ be on screens?

    Fifth Season is handling distribution, and we have to assume the show will be looking for a streaming or network home before too long.

    But right now, there is no information on when it might arrive.

    Kevin Costner for 'Horizon: An American Saga' at CinemaCon 2024.
    Kevin Costner for ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ at CinemaCon 2024. Photo: Warner Bros.

    List of Kevin Costner Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Kevin Costner Movies on Amazon

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  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mark Hamill, More Set for Live Mueller Report Reading

    Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mark Hamill, More Set for Live Mueller Report Reading

    Julia Louis-Dreyfus; Mark Hamill
    Colleen Hayes/HBO; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

    A host of Hollywood stars are teaming up to bring the public a live reading of the Mueller report.

    The big event is called “The Investigation: A Search for the Truth in Ten Acts,” and it is scheduled to take place on Monday, June 24. It will star Zachary Quinto, Annette Bening, John Lithgow, and more, with additional participation by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mark Hamill, and Sigourney Weaver, Deadline reports. They’ll perform a version of the report adapted by the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Robert Schenkkan.

    The full cast also includes Kevin Kline, Frederick Weller, Ben McKenzie, Michael Shannon, Noah Emmerich, Justin Long, Jason Alexander, Gina Gershon, Wilson Cruz, Joel Grey, Alyssa Milano, Kyra Sedgwick, Alfre Woodard, Piper Perabo, and Aidan Quinn. The reading is presented by Law Works, which will be live-streaming it. The organization “engages voices and educates the public on the importance of the rule of law, the role of the special counsel in the justice system, and the integrity of our judicial institutions,” per its website.

    Law Works describes the upcoming play as “ripped right from the pages of the Mueller report.” The special counsel’s report was submitted to Attorney General William Barr in March, and the Department of Justice released a redacted version to the public in April. The full report numbers more than 400 pages, meaning a reading may make it more accessible to the general public. The fact that there’s a star-studded cast will likely also draw people in.

    “The Investigation” is executive produced by Susan Disney Lord, Abigail Disney, and Timothy Disney. It will begin live-streaming here at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

    [via: Deadline]

  • HBO Calls out Donald Trump for Use of ‘Game of Thrones’ Meme

    HBO Calls out Donald Trump for Use of ‘Game of Thrones’ Meme

    Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones
    Helen Sloan/HBO

    The only politics HBO wants “Game of Thrones” to be involved in are those of the Seven Kingdoms.

    After President Donald Trump used a  “Game of Thrones”-inspired meme in a tweet Thursday, the premium network asked in a statement (via Deadline) to be excluded from the narrative. Trump shared the image on the day the Mueller report was released and used it to make his case that there was no evidence of collusion or obstruction. It said:

    “No collusion. No obstruction. For the haters and the radical left Democrats–Game Over.”

     

    For the record, Trump’s takeaway is less nuanced than Robert Mueller’s findings. The investigation “identified numerous links between individuals with ties to the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump Campaign,” per the report (via CNN), but “the evidence was not sufficient to support criminal charges.” In addition, regarding possible obstruction of justice, the special counsel wrote that “while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”

    Regardless of the outcome, HBO wasn’t thrilled about “Game of Thrones” being dragged into the mix. The premium network acknowledged that enthusiasm for the final season is high, but said, “We still prefer our intellectual property not be used for political purposes.”

    [via: Deadline]

  • ‘Clueless’ Star Stacey Dash Sets up Run for California Congress: ‘It’s Time … for Me to Put Up or Shut Up’

    The path to politics has gone through Hollywood once again.

    Stacey Dash, one of the stars of the iconic ’90s teen comedy “Clueless,” has been vocal about burning issues such as race, education, and crime. Now, after toying with the idea of running for office, she has apparently made the decision to go for it. Dash filed paperwork to run for a seat in the California House of Representatives, Variety reports. She hopes to represent the 44th district, which includes North Long Beach, San Pedro, Watts, and Compton.

    Dash, a Republican, made it clear in early February that she was getting more serious about running when she tweeted that she was “[mulling] possibilities” and asked for her online community’s thoughts about her launching a bid. Within a couple of weeks, she started to drop hints that an announcement could be coming, writing, “Things are taking shape” on Feb. 22 and “Soon” the following day. On Feb. 26, she got more specific and promised “formal statements” soon. Her tweet added that she wants to “serve great people” and that it was “time for [her] … to put up or shut up.”

    Dash has proven controversial over the years. She caused a stir, for example, when she spoke out against Black History Month. As such, the response to her entry into politics has predictably been mixed, with some people thrilled and others appalled.

    Dash may have an uphill battle ahead of her, as the seat she’s running for is currently held by Democrat Nanette Barragán. Either way, it looks like she’s going for it.

  • Dwayne Johnson Is Too Busy to Run for President in 2020 … But Maybe Not 2024

    Dwayne Johnson Honored With Star On The Hollywood Walk Of FameThe next role for Dwayne Johnson will not be president, but that doesn’t mean he never plans to launch a White House bid.

    The former pro wrestler-turned-action star has been open about being interested in the possibility of running, but right now, he isn’t ready to step away from acting — in fact, he’s too busy to do so. Johnson told Variety that his schedule is full through 2021, so he wouldn’t be able to run in 2020. Still, he doesn’t want to rule out the idea of trying to become commander in chief in the future.

    “Realistically, as we go into 2018, when you look at my slate as we’re developing and shooting into 2019 and 2020, the slate goes deep into 2021,” he said of his acting and producing commitments, “so it feels like the realistic consideration would be 2024.”

    That would be too late for a possible showdown with a fellow former WWE performer, President Donald Trump, so we wouldn’t see the entertainers take each other on. Even so, Johnson, who says he is a registered Independent, was critical of the current leadership while speaking to Variety.

    “I continue to be hopeful that our leaders exhibit poise, perspective and the ability to bring our country together during these tough times — which I don’t feel our presidency is currently doing,” he said.

    Johnson’s interest in running comes in part in response to what he has been seeing in politics today. However, he knows that he needs to be ready before he enters the fray; he said he is “well aware” governing is “not the business [he’s] in.” The actor made it clear, though, that he is taking the time to “listen and learn.”

    Should Johnson run, he already has support in his corner. Not only did “SNL” fans love the idea of him running with Tom Hanks, Michael Moore said in May that Democrats should “run someone that’s beloved by the American people,” naming The Rock as his choice.

  • Marco Rubio on ‘Game of Thrones’: ‘It’s Got a Lot of Good Strategies’

    President Trump Delivers Remarks On US-Cuba Relations In MiamiThe world would be infinitely scarier if politicians started asking themselves, “What would Cersei do?”

    Fortunately, Marco Rubio was joking when he suggested that watching “Game of Thrones” would have improved his political career. The U.S. senator from Florida was speaking at the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute’s sixth annual trade symposium at the Canadian Embassy on Wednesday when he quipped that he should have started watching the hit HBO fantasy series sooner.

    “If I’d have watched [‘Game of Thrones’] two years ago, I would’ve been president,” he joked. “It’s got a lot of good strategies.”

    We wouldn’t want to see anyone try out “Game of Thrones”-style tactics in real life, especially given how ugly last year’s presidential election already was. Rubio was part of the large Republican field that battled for the GOP nomination during the primary last year before ultimately losing to now-President Donald Trump. Among the low points were Trump nicknaming Rubio “Little Marco” and the two infamously exchanging jabs about penis size during a March debate.

    Unpleasant as politics in the United States can be, at least we can say we haven’t hit the lows of Westeros, where characters scheme, manipulate, and murder to the n-th degree.

    [via: Haley Byrd/Twitter]

  • Twitter Has a Field Day With Hillary Clinton’s Awkward ‘Game of Thrones’ Comparison

    US-POLITICS-CLINTON-BOOK-SIGNING“What Happened” isn’t just the name of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s new book — it’s probably the question she’s asking herself after seeing the reaction to a “Game of Thrones” comparison she made in the memoir.

    The section of the book in question technically only likens the shouts of Trump supporters at rallies to the cries of the religious zealots of “Game of Thrones” during Cersei Lannister’s Season 5 walk of shame. However, most people realized that this would put Clinton in Cersei’s place, which makes the comparison pretty counter-productive if her goal was to improve her public image. The topic got Twitter in a frenzy, for once aligning people who normally disagree over political issues.

    While some Clinton opponents were only too happy to run with the Cersei comparison, the majority of people just couldn’t believe she made it in the first place. As “Game of Thrones” fans know, Cersei Lannister isn’t really a person you want to be likened to.

    Let this be a lesson to future memoirists: Be careful with your pop culture references.

    [via: Twitter]

  • Michael Moore Makes Case for Dwayne Johnson as President: ‘Think About How Safe We Would Be’

    'The Fate Of The Furious' New York Premiere - Outside ArrivalsMichael Moore can smell what the Rock is cooking.

    The documentary director has been a vocal Donald Trump critic since before the former reality TV star moved into the White House, so it’s not surprising that Moore is already considering potential challengers for 2020. He recently discussed some ideas with Variety, suggesting that Democrats should run a high-profile TV or movie star — someone like Dwayne Johnson, for example.

    “Run the Rock,” Moore said. “Who do you want for commander in chief? I want the f—ing Rock!”

    He took it further, expounding the benefits of Johnson sitting in the Oval Office.

    “It would scare anybody that would hurt us,” he said. “Think about how safe we would be if the Rock was president.”

    On a more serious note, Moore argued that Democrats underestimated Trump’s popularity during the election and have tended to avoid celebrity candidates, even as Republicans have found success multiple times with stars.

    “Why don’t we run someone that’s beloved by the American people?” he said. “Democrats always shy away from Hollywood.”

    We’ll see if Trump’s presidency changes that pattern. As Moore pointed out, there are plenty of beloved, high-profile Democrats who could potentially run. Our current president is in the WWE hall of fame, so another entertainer like Johnson could very well tag in.

    [via: Variety]

  • Watch Allison Janney Reprise Her ‘West Wing’ Role for ‘Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner’

    The first “Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner” got off to a special start Saturday night. Instead of kicking off the show herself, host Samantha Bee let everyone’s favorite fictional press secretary do the honors.

    “West Wing” character, C.J. Cregg. There, she answered questions about the “Full Frontal” host’s event and dealt with some of the changes in the media that have taken place since the political drama ended its run in 2006. The issues are bigger than now taking questions from reporters attending via Skype, for example. She ended up giving an impassioned speech about how real journalism is being ruined by “a morally bankrupt gang of racist bloggers, anarchists, Dominionists, radio hosts, and rancid women-haters.”

    Watch C.J. make her triumphant return below, plus confirm that Bee is a witch.

    “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” airs Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on TBS.

  • ‘SNL’: Watch Alec Baldwin Eliminate a White House Adviser a la Tyra Banks

    “The Apprentice,” but the latest “Saturday Night Live” episode had him eliminating one of his top advisers in true Tyra Banks style.

    Alec Baldwin returned to “SNL” for yet another hilarious Trump impression over the weekend, and he dealt with the rumored discord between White House advisers Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner, among other topical issues. Wearing a Russian flag pin and his signature Trump look, Baldwin revisited the accomplishments of the administration so far before, and then called in his two top advisers for an important decision. “SNL” vet Jimmy Kimmel hosted the episode, so he was on hand to play Trump’s “little Kush ball.”

    The sketch paid homage to the dramatic eliminations of “America’s Next Top Model,” right down to the one photo in the president’s hand revealing who would stay on. (The loser would be sent to join Kellyanne Conway in the basement.) Watch Baldwin do Trump acting like Banks below.

    “Saturday Night Live” airs at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.