Here’s your first look at Kevin Spacey as President Richard Nixon and Michael Shannon as Elvis Presley from the comedy “Elvis & Nixon.” Currently in production, the film re-creates the intimate meeting in the Oval Office between two men, which resulted in Nixon deputizing Presley as an honorary "federal agent at large" with respect to illicit drugs and which is pretty funny in hindsight. Directed by Liza Johnson (“Hateship Loveship, “Return”), the story is based off a screenplay by producer/writer Cary Elwes and Hanala and Joey Sagal. Here’s the official synopsis:
Two men at the height of their powers, conscious they could not stay on top forever, both ripped with fear of the inevitable, sharing one famous private moment in the Oval office. ELVIS & NIXON recounts the morning of December 21st 1970, when the King of Rock’ n Roll (Michael Shannon) showed up on the White House lawn to request a meeting with the most powerful man in the world, President Richard Nixon (Kevin Spacey). He had a very urgent request: to be sworn in as an undercover Federal Agent at large. This intimate moment in the Oval office between two men at the height of their powers has never been told.
“After the enormous success of ‘The Butler,’ I have a deep affection for films set in the White House as does the public,” Elwes said in statement. “To work with Shannon and Spacey on this movie at the height of their careers is a dream come true.” Elwes and Holly Wiersma are producing with Autumn Pictures‘ David Hansen and Johnny Mac financing and executive producing alongside Byron Wetzel, Robert Ogden Barnum and Jerry Schilling.
No release date yet, but maybe we’ll see this one around Toronto International Film Festival.
Kevin Spacey is ripping off the film when elvis met Nixon directed and written by Alan Rosen about 20 years ago
My documentary DRUGLAWED is the first film to tell this story!! You are guys are second ;-] google DRUGLAWED
I don\’t care how good of an actor Michael Shannon is, I will never be able to look at this on screen and believe for a moment that he\’s Elvis. He may have the voice and mannerisms down, and get praised for that, but he\’s just not going to be convincing as Elvis. I\’ve seen Spacey do Nixon impressions before, he\’s passable as Nixon, but Shannon as Elvis? Just no.
I think Michael Shannon is a remarkable actor and when someone is playing someone in a biopic i guess they don\’t always have to look exactly like the person they are playing,but as long as there is some sort of resemblance even in terms of the actors personality to the person they are playing for example Will Smith didn\’t really look like Ali but he had a very similar personality loud funny e.t.c same as De Niro did\’nt look like la Motta, Sean penn playing Harvey milk another example but Michael Shannon playing ELVIS that is the strangest casting decision i have ever heard off he is a great actor but the whole time i will be thinking he will probably snap Nixon\’s neck any second from now
I think Michael Shannon is a remarkable actor and when someone is playing someone in a biopic i guess they don\’t always have to look exactly like the person they are playing,but as long as there is some sort of resemblance even in terms of the actors personality to th person they are playing for example Will Smith didn\’t really look like Ali but he had a very similar personality loud funny e.t.c same as De Niro did\’nt look like la Motta, Sean penn playing Harvey milk another example but Michael Shannon playing ELVIS that is the strangest casting decision i have ever heard off he is a great actor but the whole time i will be thinking he will probably snap Nixon\’s neck any second from now.