To some Karl Rove is a much revered figure while to many others he is the evil man behind the throne, who helped get George W. Bush elected and then steered his presidency, using plenty of dirty tricks against his enemies along the way. Many called him ‘Bush’s Brain’, while the President preferred to nickname him ‘Turd Blossom’. But what was he like at college? Sadly it doesn’t sound like it was all frat parties and beer bongs for a youthful Rove, but Richard Linklater is keen to explore his early years anyway in College Republican.
According to TheWrap, Paul Dano has signed on to play Rove in the movie, filling a role that Shia LaBeouf was eyeing. Before Rove worked for Bush Jr., he was on the staff of both Nixon and Bush’s father’s administration, and before that he dropped out of university in order to work for the College Republican National Committee. That’s where the film comes, looking at how Rove hooked up with fellow political thinker Lee Atwater (who later worked for Reagan and Bush), and how their campaign to get Rove elected as chairman of the committee taught them a lot about dirty tricks.
Producer Maya Browne says: “[The film] is about when Karl Rove and Lee Atwater first met, which is when Karl Rove ran for president of the College Republicans, and that’s when they sort of discovered dirty tricks. It’s interesting to see them take that journey together.”
Wes Jones’ script landed on the 2010 Black List of the best unproduced screenplays, suggesting this is one to watch out for. Production begins in late November in Austin, Texas.