If I was making a biopic of Robert F. Kennedy, the first person I’d try to cast in the lead role would be Matt Damon, as he’s certainly got the looks and affable charm of JFK’s brother. It seems others think similarly, as Deadline Hollywood is reporting that a deal has just been inked to make a movie about the assassinated politician, with Damon attached to star and Gary Ross (Pleasantville, Seabiscuit) directing.
Damon won’t officially sign on the dotted line until he’s seen Steven Knight’s (Dirty Pretty Things) script, which will be based on Evan Thomas’ biography, His Life. The film will follow Robert’s transformation from being the clever but slightly overshadowed brother of the President to becoming a major political figure in his own right who seemed to be headed straight for the White House, before he was gunned down at the Ambassador Hotel in 1968.
However it seems Damon and Ross may have some competition in the RFK biopic stakes, as Chris Columbus is currently developing The Last Campaign, about Bobby’s ill-fated presidential run. Only one of these movies is likely to get made, but whichever one goes in front of the camera, it’s certainly a fascinating topic for a film.