Karl Rove, an active participant in Richard Nixon’s 1972 Presidential campaign and key advisor to former President George W. Bush, aka ‘Bush’s Brain’ will be portrayed by Paul Dano.
A charismatic preacher in There Will Be Blood and a creepy nihilist teenager in Little Miss Sunshine, will take a role that Shia LaBeouf had previously been rumoured to be playing.
Richard Linklater, who has helmed Slacker and Dazed and Confused, is attached to direct a project entitled College Republicans, suggesting it’s the comedy-drama about a young Rove.
Producer Maya Browne told TheWrap the film ‘is about when Karl Rove and Lee Atwater first met, which is when Karl Rove ran for president of the College Republicans, and that’s when they sort of discovered dirty tricks. It’s interesting to see them take that journey together.’
By the way, Atwater was an advisor of U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and Chairman of the Republican National Committee. So, the pair begun discovering the potency of a well-orchestrated ‘dirty tricks’ campaign.
The script for College Republicans, penned by Wes Jones has landed on the 2010 Black List.
The movie will begin shooting in Austin, Texas in late November.
The great role of the most polarizing political operative will be something different for Dano who will next be seen ranging from the sci-fi Looper, the indie dramedy He Loves Me and the film adaptation of ‘Another Bullshit Night In Suck City.’
It’s thrilling to see Dano and Linklater (Bernie) dealing with this material. What’s your expectation?
Karl Rowe, George Bush’s Right-Hand Man
