First Look: Forest Whitaker In Lee Daniels' ‘The Butler’
It took a couple of years afterPreciousfor directorLee Danielsto get cameras rolling on his follow-up, the lurid Southern melodramaThe Paperboy, but he’s barely even taking a breather before heading into his next picture. Even asThe Paperboygears up for its theatrical run, Daniels has already started shootingThe ButlerwithForest Whitakerin the lead as longtime White House servantEugene Allen.
Although the film’s drawn quite a bit of attention in recent months for its star-studded cast, which includesOprah Winfrey,Robin Williams,John Cusack,Alan Rickman,Terrence Howard, and many,manymore, the first official still is a simple one of Whitaker at work. Check it out after the jump.
UPDATE:We now also have photos ofJames MarsdenandMinka Kellyin costume as John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy. See them after the jump.
It’s a striking image, but it doesn’t tell us all that much. Whitaker’s face is covered in shadow, so it’s tough to see tell what he looks like in character, and the tight shot makes it difficult to get a sense of the set. Mostly, the photo serves to remind us that this movie really is happening.
We expect more eyebrow-raising photos will hit in the weeks to come, however. Allen served under eight different presidents during his stint at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and part of the reason this film’s gotten as much buzz as it has is its casting of well-known stars as real-life political figures. Williams andMelissa Leoare Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower, Cusack is Richard Nixon, Rickman is Ronald Reagan,Liev Schreiberis Lyndon B. Johnson,James MarsdenandMinka Kellyare JFK and Jackie O,Jane Fondaplays Nancy Reagan,Nelsan Ellisis Martin Luther King, Jr., and so on. We look forward to comparing the actors' looks to their historical inspirations.
Also starringAlex Pettyfer,Lenny Kravitz,Cuba Gooding Jr.,Vanessa Redgrave,Jesse Williams,Mariah Carey, andDavid Oyelowo,The Butleris expected to hit in 2013. [Variety Showblitz]
