A few weeks ago, when it was reported that Lee Daniels was looking to follow-up The Paperboy with the civil rights themed film, The Butler, it appeared that David Oyelowo would be taking on the lead role of Eugene Allen, the White House butler who served under eight administrations and saw the world change from the inside. I speculated then, with Oprah Winfrey mentioned as a contender to play Allen's wife, that something didn't quite make sense with Oyelowo being many years her junior. Turns out I was right, and somebody else will be stepping into the Allen role, instead.
According to Variety, Forest Whitaker is set to play Allen, with Winfrey still very much in the picture. Oyelowo isn't going anywhere, either, as he'll play their son. This is starting to look like a film that will rely mostly on flashback to tell its story. Whitaker, who is still planning to direct a Waiting to Exhale sequel, hasn't done anything with this much Oscar potential since The Last King of Scotland.
Meanwhile we're still waiting for confirmation on some of the other names rumored to be involved. Mila Kunis as Jackie Onassis, John Cusack as Richard Nixon, and Hugh Jackman for an unknown role. The plan is similar to that of Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, with a ton of big names playing famous figures throughout history. If the money comes together, filming could begin by this summer.
