Forest Whitaker To Star, Produce Film on Gen. Colin PowellPosted by Wilson Morales
October 1, 2013
Source: Variety
According to Variety, which was first noticed by The Playlist, Oscar winner Forest Whitaker is set to star and produce ‘Powell,’ a behind-the-scenes story of how then-Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell addressed the U.N. and made the case for war in Iraq.
Based on Ed Whitworth‘s screenplay, which was mentioned back in Franklin Leonard‘s Black List of 2011, it’s a tragic story in which his protagonist “ended up doing this thing that he now seemingly regrets and was clearly a huge mistake.” His next project is a “political dramatic thriller” about a leading figure of the Arab Spring and an MI6 spy movie with Colin Firth attached.
Whitaker is no stranger to doing biopics, having won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the 2006 film ‘The Last King of Scotland.’ He also played jazz musician Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker in Clint Eastwood’s ‘Bird’ and professor James Leonard Farmer, Sr. in Denzel Washington‘s ‘The Great Debaters.’
He’s currently on the big screen playing Cecil Gaines in ‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler,’ which is loosely based on the life of White House butler Eugene Allen. Whitaker, who also executive produced Ryan Coogler‘s ‘Fruitvale Station,’ will next be seen in Kasi Lemmons‘ musical ‘Black Nativity.’
