You’ve probably never heard of Frank Langella, but you’ve definitely seen him. Like Melinda Lou Thomas or whoever played the Quaker Oats guy, he seems to pop up in the back of every movie, searing his image into our brains. He’s played Dracula, Superman’s boss, and even one of the Small Soldiers, but now it looks like he may have finally found his calling.
Variety is reporting that Ron Howard has selected Langella to play the title character in his upcoming Nixon homage. This choice was definitely Opie Taylor’s logical pick since the sixty nine year old actor played the lead in Peter Morgan’s Broadway smash “Frost-Nixon.” The adaptation will begin shooting August twenty seventh.
Warren Beatty was an early front runner for the sought-after role; however he backed out amid “You’re So Vain” rumors (dated reference!). I have a personal interest in this movie as I’m probably the only non Nixon family member in America with two separate Tricky Dick campaign posters on his wall. Before you ask…No! I’m not crazy. I just appreciate a man who rises to the apex of power and then implodes taking all his friends with him. If you think about it, he’s kind of like an uncastrated Marshall Applewhite (except he didn’t scribble “Heaven’s Gate Away Team” on his armband prior to death).
Ron Howard has never done me wrong in the past (except by producing ‘Felicity’), and Frank Langella is a very serviceable actor; so, this should actually be pretty good. Expect it out sometime next year.
