Elizabeth Banks Cast As Laura Bush In Oliver Stone Movie

Elizabeth Banks Cast As Laura Bush In Oliver Stone Movie

Hollywood Reporter   |   March 26, 2008 11:53 AM



From The Hollywood Reporter:

Elizabeth Banks is going from the world of adult films to the White House.


The actress, who recently wrapped shooting Kevin Smith's comedy "Zack and Miri Make a Porno," is in final negotiations to portray first lady Laura Bush in "W," Oliver Stone's biopic on the life and presidency of George W. Bush.

Back in January, Stone cast "No Country for Old Men" star Josh Brolin as George W. Bush. At the time the project was announced, Stone told Variety:

"It's a behind-the-scenes approach, similar to 'Nixon,' to give a sense of what it's like to be in his skin," Stone told Daily Variety. "But if 'Nixon' was a symphony, this is more like a chamber piece, and not as dark in tone. People have turned my political ideas into a cliche, but that is superficial. I'm a dramatist who is interested in people, and I have empathy for Bush as a human being, much the same as I did for Castro, Nixon, Jim Morrison, Jim Garrison and Alexander the Great."


Stone declined to give his personal opinion of the president.

"I can't give you that, because the filmmaker has to hide in the work," Stone said. "Here, I'm the referee, and I want a fair, true portrait of the man. How did Bush go from an alcoholic bum to the most powerful figure in the world? It's like Frank Capra territory on one hand, but I'll also cover the demons in his private life, his bouts with his dad and his conversion to Christianity, which explains a lot of where he is coming from. It includes his belief that God personally chose him to be president of the United States, and his coming into his own with the stunning, preemptive attack on Iraq. It will contain surprises for Bush supporters and his detractors."



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STONE NEEDS TO CAST SOMEONE who looks more like a total ditz. This selection just flatters Laura Bush (including the porno connection)....

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:50 AM on 03/27/2008

Can you imagine anything more boring than the thought of a story about the Bush's? I bet they don't tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about that family.

The Bush's won't allow it.

We've already had a movie about the Stepford Wives - enough already.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:29 AM on 03/27/2008

I hope this movie will show how the Bush family has swaggered through the past 60 years of American history with a vast sense of entitlement, gorging themselves at the public trough at tax-payer expense. They are alcoholic bullies, cheaters, and liars who use the levers of power to enrich themselves and their cronies and pin another star on their smug chests. They do not care who they have to cheat, smear, kill or destroy in the process. I pray America is done with the whole incompetent lot of them.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:21 AM on 03/27/2008

Doing a Kevin Smith doesn't exactly make her a porn star, duh. And didn't they do Laura's story in The Stepford Wives already?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:32 AM on 03/27/2008

stone sounds full of himself

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:28 AM on 03/27/2008

elizabeth has a bit of a ways to go before she attains that "the lights are on but nobody's home look" so favored by the ex gop first ladies.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:49 AM on 03/27/2008

But , who will play Jeff Gannon??????

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:40 PM on 03/26/2008

There's already a film about a very George W. Bush type figure. It's called "Being There", starring Peter Sellers.

I fear the JFK media backlash has permanently scarred Stone. These days he seems far too earnest to prove himself to the skewed and blindered views of conservatives.

He's lost his teeth. And such biting, dangerous teeth they were.

I hope he proves me wrong with his W. film. But the truth about George W. is a very ugly and dark one unfortunately. No amount of overblown daddy-issues will excuse his destructive and mindlessly self-centered ego. Nor excuse the damage that ego and dangerously shallow intellect has done to other real and living people, and their families.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:53 PM on 03/26/2008

The character, Chance the Gardner, was a complete innocent who walked on water. He lived in a continuous egoless moment oblivious to the shortcomings of the dualistic world around him. "Being There" was hardly a story about George W. Bush.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:11 AM on 03/27/2008

I hate his voice so much I can't even bear to listen to imitators. Pass.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:26 PM on 03/26/2008

A sufficiently vacant visage...

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:15 PM on 03/26/2008

Who is he going to cast as Chimpy?

My vote is for: Alfred E. Neuman from MAD Magazine.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:08 PM on 03/26/2008

Do you people ever read the articles?
Or can't you get past the red meat of shallow headlines?

Josh Brolin,Blind One,Josh Brolin.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:08 AM on 03/27/2008

I wonder who will they use as a stunt double when they film the vehicular homicide incident from her care-free high school days?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:26 PM on 03/26/2008

How 'bout Will Ferrell?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:46 PM on 03/26/2008

not if he doesn't want to ruin his movie!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:07 PM on 03/26/2008

Too obvious. We've all seen Stone's m.o. He shows the hypocrisies and lies of a situation or period in time by making it an honest portrayal of the person, place or thing.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:57 PM on 03/26/2008

Oddly stated. It sounds like you want to arrest him for being terrific. And I agree.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:26 AM on 03/27/2008

Laura 2016

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:43 PM on 03/26/2008

Doggpound, I gotta good veep; slightly used...but, "a fighter."

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:44 AM on 03/27/2008

IS THAT THE TITLE "NIGHTMARE AT 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE????

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:19 PM on 03/26/2008

It's always a good challenge to play someone truly ugly.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:42 PM on 03/26/2008

I have a nasty and sinking feeling that Stone is going to whitewash one of the greatest political criminals in all of American history. I hope not. However, Stone is an ex-Goldwater guy, as Hillary Clinton is an ex-Goldwater girl. Now in his sixties, Stone may be reverting to that previous reactionary incarnation. There may be within him some feeling of sympathy for this homicidal lout who has the blood of tens of thousands on his hands. A film about Bush needs to be done by someone like Terry Gilliam or Martin Scorsese who understand absurdity and the swaggering, punk nature of people like George Wanker Bush. And then, what material is he going to use to base his screenplay on?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:15 PM on 03/26/2008

Umm have you ever watched an Oliver Stone film?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:21 AM on 03/27/2008

Um...you haven't been following Oliver Stone's career, have you...?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:21 PM on 03/26/2008

I'd prefer a steamy pile of crap to play laura bush...and think of the dialog...there wouldn't be any...just like laura bush now!

Mums the word...right laura??

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:12 PM on 03/26/2008

If he does an authentic portrayal of this human train wreck he will be facing the wrath of the Bush Crime Family and all their power.

If that isn't scary enough he will also have Big Bad Babs after him and she is ruthless!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:49 PM on 03/26/2008

Why would we want to see a movie about the presidency of this tyrant? We're still living with this despotic idiot!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:39 PM on 03/26/2008

Who in all honesty wants to see a movie about the Bushes? I think 8 years have been plenty and they were AGONY!!!!!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:34 PM on 03/26/2008

I'm sure that Elizabeth Banks can be made up to resemble Laura Bush, but her eyes will be missing Laura's signature vacant look. Maybe there's some special effects technique that can be used to drain the vibrancy and joie de vive from her expressions to better match Laura's robotic veneer.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:16 PM on 03/26/2008

"but her eyes will be missing Laura's signature vacant look."

Just load her up with Prozac. That'll do it.

Prozac, when you want that special " Laura Look."

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:02 AM on 03/27/2008

And for Barbara Bush-Dame Edna.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:15 PM on 03/26/2008

elr50 -- but Dame Edna's pretty and dresses nicely!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:45 AM on 03/27/2008

Who's playing W? I would suggest Jethro from the Beverly Hillbillies, but he is probably too intelligent.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:14 PM on 03/26/2008

This is crazy. I can't want to sleep with Laura Bush!

Elizabeth Banks is hot. Laura Bush is not.

Oliver is off his nut.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:10 PM on 03/26/2008
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