Here is our first look at Jane Fonda and Alan Rickman as Nancy and Ronal Reagan in THE BUTLER.
Yes, it seems the legendary thesps like it in THE BUTLER. Here they are in character, partying with co-star Oprah Winfrey and director Lee Daniels, whist filming what will surely be a very prestigious film.
THE BUTLER stars Forest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines (based on real life butler Eugene Allen) and Oprah as his wife, Gloria. Allen worked at the White House through eight presidencies, from Dwight ‘Ike’ Eisenhower (Robin Williams) through JFK (James Marsden), Lyndon B. Johnson (Live Schreiber) to Richard Nixon (John Cusack. For reals) among others.
Also among Daniels’ all-star cast are current whiz kid Alex Pettyfer, hard hitter Melissa Leo, hard rocker Lenny Kravitz, hard to watch Mariah Carey, the ever reliable Cuba Gooding Jr, the less reliable Terence Howard, the ever badass Vanessa Redgrave and David Oyelowo, who is also starring in the equally presidential LINCOLN and here reunites with RED TAILS co-stars Gooding Jr and Howard.
As we look at the above shot, we enter the Uncanny Valley. Rickman is clearly Rickman, but looks so much like Reagan that it’s almost unsettling, not unlike Meryl Streep as THE IRON LADY. I don’t know whether he’s going to accuse me of being a gay communist or shoot the glass.
There were a couple more delicious shots dished out by the cast. Here, Oprah shows the world how she and Lenny Kravitz scrub up just dandy.
While Jane Fonda also posted a pic of herself and the dashing guitar hero.
THE BUTLER is based on an article ‘A Butler Well Served By This Election’ by Wil Haygood and was adapted by Danny Strong (best known as Jonathan Levinson in BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER) and Lee Daniels (PRECIOUS, also starring Mariah Carey) who also directs. It is due for release in 2013.
Sources: Oprah Winfrey’s Intsagram, Jane Fonda’s Twitter, Entertainment Weekly
