When the cast of an in-development movie includes names like Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton, Jacki Weaver, Zac Efron and Marcia Gay Harden, you'd think that it would be done adding top line stars. After all, there's only so much space available on a poster for a bunch of heads. But today the upcoming JFK assassination drama Parkland has revealed that those names are only part of the bigger picture.
With production on the movie beginning this week Exclusive Media Co-Chairmen Nigel Sinclair and Guy East have announced that James Badge Dale, Jackie Earle Haley, Colin Hanks, David Harbour and Ron Livingston have all signed up for parts in the true-life drama. Based on the book "Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy" by Vincent Bugliosi, and adapted and directed by journalist and novelist Peter Landesman, the film takes audiences away from the streets of Dallas on November 22, 1963 and focuses on the events that occured in Parkland Hospital, the place where Kennedy was taken after being shot. Sadly the press release sent out by the studio behind the project doesn't mention who any of the new actors will be playing in the movie. As of now the only confirmed role belongs to Jeremy Strong, who will be playing the key role of presidential assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.
Tom Hanks' production company, Playtone, is backing the project, and Bill Paxton is also signed on as a producer. Filming will be taking place primarily in Austin - "to achieve the 1960s period look," according to the press release - and while no official release date has been set they are currently looking to release it in time to honor the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's passing.
