Woodrow Wilson isn’t the most famous of US presidents, but history loving Leonardo DiCaprio hopes to change that, as THR reports that he’s planning to produce a film adaptation of A. Scott Berg’s biography of the 28th President, simply titled Wilson.
DiCaprio is also planning to play the central role.
The film will focus on Wilson’s progressive achievements, such as the creation of the Federal Reserve and his support of the Treaty of Versailles, which formally ended the First World War (he was the President throughout the War). His Presidency was marked by great efforts to reform things such as child labour and wayward businesses, but he was fought every step of the way. If that weren’t enough, he also helped form the pre-UN League of Nation and suffered a stroke while in office.
Less impressive was his weak record on civil rights for African Americans, and while he supported women’s suffrage, many believe this was more political than due to a genuine belief in women’s right. Before he became president, he was a professor at Wesleyan University, President of Princeton University, and was the only President in history to hold a Ph.D.
Warner Bros. is currently in talks to pick up the film, although no director or screenwriter is currently attached.