As The Butler is about a man who served eight US Presidents, there are plenty of roles to cast of former leaders of the free world. Now the movie has got another one, as Robin Williams has signed up for Lee Daniels’ film, playing Dwight Eisenhower, according to Variety.
The movie is a biopic about longtime White House butler, Eugene Allen (Forest Whitaker), began his White House employment in 1952, under President Harry S. Truman, and retired in 1986, during President Ronald Reagan’s second term in office. In that time the African American rose through the ranks and was there as the Civil Rights struggle played out in the halls of power.
Other Presidential roles include John Cusack as Richard Nixon, Liam Neeson as Lyndon B. Johnson, and Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan, with Jane Fonda playing Nancy Reagan. David Oyelowo will play the title role. Danny Strong co-wrote the screenplay with Lee Daniels, with production scheduled to start in the very near future.