Kevin Costner might be trading the western way of life for the West Wing.
If negotiations go well, the former Yellowstone star will likely be taking on a role of presidential proportions in the near future. Deadline has reported that Costner is currently negotiating for the role of President Bill Clinton in a political drama series surrounding the 1999 crisis in East Timor.
The show is reportedly going to be called “United,” and it’s being developed with help from the United Nations. Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio is also attached to the project, but in a producer role. David Raymond, known most notably for the movie Night Hunter, is set to write and direct the series.
United will aim to dramatize the role that the Clinton administration played in de-escalating the global crisis that stemmed from violent events happening in East Timor. From what we know, the series will be based on the true events that played out, with some exaggerated elements possible (it is a drama, after all). It’s expected to shoot in Atlanta and Spain sometime next year.
Deadline described the series as this:
“United presumably looks at the 1999 uprising in East Timor, which took place following a UN-organized independence referendum in the territory. East Timor was a Portuguese colony up until 1975, briefly asserting independence before being annexed by Indonesia, in an invasion supported by the administration of U.S. President Gerald Ford.
In subsequent decades, those in the territory endured military repression, famine, and widespread human-rights abuses. But by the late ’90s, Indonesia was politically weakened, and the people of East Timor were allowed to vote on whether to remain within Indonesia or become independent.”
For fans of Kevin Costner and his work, this news of negotiation is good news, even though he hasn’t been confirmed for the role just yet. There were reports that Costner was being blackballed a bit from Hollywood after the story about his on-set-altercation with fellow Yellowstone actor Wes Bentley broke.
Some sources suggested that he was having trouble getting future projects financed because of the story. What future projects, you might be asking? Well… the 70-year-old actor apparently wanted to do a deep-sea treasure hunting show, but no one would give him the money to do it (and Costner doesn’t have the money either because he sank it into Horizon: An American Saga).
The only for sure thing that the star had coming up prior to this report connecting him to play Bill Clinton in United is a role in an upcoming dramedy film titled Honeymoon with Harry. The two-time Oscar winner is set to star alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, and the story focuses on a man (played by Gyllenhaal) who loses his fiancée days before their wedding and decides to still go on the planned honeymoon with his would-have-been father-in-law (played by Costner).
With all of this in mind, all signs are pointing towards Costner leaving behind his “western era” and moving towards other productions. The 70-year-old actor is either making a pointed effort to try new things, or he’s just grasping on to roles that are being offered to him – and presumably leaving his Horizon: An American Saga passion project to rot away.
Whatever it is, I’d be pumped to see Costner tackle the role of President Bill Clinton in the drama series… here’s to hoping he gets the part.
