Chirs Columbus to take on RFK’s Final Campaign

Posted by Robin Ruinsky (robin@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 11, 2008

In 1968 Robert F. Kennedy ran for President. Eighty two days after he started his campaign he was dead. His assassination, coming after the assassination of Martin Luther King was another reminder of how violence can steal the best from us.

Thurston Clarke wrote a book about Kennedy’s ill fated presidential run in “The Last Campaign”. The book received great reviews and now is poised to become a film.

Director Chris Columbus and his 1492 Prods. along with India based Reliance Big Entertainment, have acquired the rights to Thurston’s book. “The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days That Inspired America.”

1492 was dropped by Warner Bros. and made the deal with Reliance to help finance upcoming projects. The new arrangement with Reliance is seen as an advantage according to 1492 partner Michael Barnathan:

“There are so many layers and people who need to sign off in studio deals that it can push a deal back weeks,” Barnathan said. “Here, we talk to one person, CEO Amit Khanna. … Being able to develop and package a project allows us to take it to the studio best suited for it.”

Robert Kennedy’s idealistic campaign which addressed the problems of poverty, the war in Vietnam, racism and other serious social issues should make a good film. Forty years may have passed since his death but we still face the same issues today including an unpopular war.

Now the really big question is who can take on the role of Robert F. Kennedy? Historical figures are always tricky to play, especially iconic ones like RFK. Throw in the Boston dialect that can spill over into parody if it’s not in the hands of the right actor and Columbus could have a disaster on his hands. This will be a tough one to cast. He’s got to find an actor who can turn an icon into flesh and blood.

Anyone out there have ideas about who should take this role on? The casting will be a make or break for this film.

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