Cruise wants Nicholson to play lewd President in action/comedy.
Since 2010, Tom Cruise has been attached to action/comedy El Presidente and he has continuously tried to recruit Jack Nicholson to the project. He and Warner Bros have been unsuccessful to date but they aren’t prepared to give up. According to The Hollywood Reporter both Cruise and the film’s director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, 2002), have travelled to Nicholson’s home in Hollywood to make one last pitch to the acting legend.
They want Nicholson to play an alcoholic and womanising President, who is recruited to the Oval Room after his predecessor dies. Cruise will play a Secret Service agent who is tasked with protecting the President when a threat is made on his life.
Robert Downey Jr was believed to be interested in the role last year but nothing came of that rumour. The same could be said for director Jay Roach, who was also connected to the film in its early stages.
Sum Of All Fears (2002) screenwriter Paul Attanasio has written the script for the film and it’s believed that Nicholson has agreed to read it. Whether he takes on the role is another story, so watch this space.
Sources: Empire, The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter
