Jason Clarke Cast as Ted Kennedy in Chappaquiddick
Chappaquiddick has reportedly found its Ted Kennedy.
According to Deadline, Zero Dark Thirty actor Jason Clarke is apparently in the final steps of negotiation to star as the late Massachusetts senator in the upcoming drama.
John Curran is also in final talks to direct the project, which was originally set to be helmed by Fifty Shades Of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson. Deadline reports that Taylor-Johnson was forced to drop out of the film due to a scheduling conflict with the Netflix pilot Gypsy.
“Jason Clarke is the perfect choice to take on the complexities of this role,” producer Mark Ciardi said in a statement. “He has unwavering passion and commitment to this project. We’re equally pleased to bring on John Curran to direct. John’s body of work speaks for itself, and he’s such a visionary filmmaker. We’re excited to be working with both of them on this incredible film.”
Chappaquiddick will take a closer look at Kennedy’s life in the seven days that followed the fatal 1969 car crash, which killed Mary Jo Kopechne. The script was written by Andrew Logan and longtime The Simpsons scribe Taylor Allen.
Clarke isn’t the only person who’s set to play the senator on screen.
Former Friends star Matthew Perry was recently cast as the late Massachusetts politician in Reelz’s The Kennedys — After Camelot opposite Katie Holmes, who will reprise her role as Jackie Kennedy Onassis from the original miniseries The Kennedys.
While the news of Perry’s casting was met with some backlash from some of the senator’s former confidantes, it will be interesting to hear their thoughts on Clarke playing Kennedy.
Chappaquiddick will reportedly start shooting later this summer.
