Hugh Jackman has consistently made interesting choices about what films he wants to star in. Obviously, most people know him as the superhero Wolverine in the multiple “X-Men” films he starred in, but when he’s not slashing people with metal claws, he’s taken roles in “Eddie the Eagle,” “Les Miserables,” and “Australia.” Now, according to Variety, he’s moving even further away from his superhero roots in a new film called “The Frontrunner.”
In “The Frontrunner,” Jackman plays the infamous Senator Gary Hart. Hart is most famous for being the clear frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination until news broke of an extramarital affair with Donna Rice, complete with a pretty damning picture of the Senator with Rice on his lap. Eventually, Hart dropped out of the race, and Michael Dukakis won the nomination. Then of course, we all know how that presidential race ended.
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Jackman is coming off the hugely successful Wolverine swan song, “Logan.” That film has grossed over $600 million worldwide, and has made Jackman more popular than ever. He’ll be seen next as P.T. Barnum in “The Greatest Showman,” where he co-stars with Michelle Williams.
“The Frontrunner” is being directed by Jason Reitman, from a screenplay by Matt Bai, Jay Carson, and Reitman. Bai actually wrote the book that the film is based on, “All the Truth is Out,” which tells the story of Hart’s incredible fall. Reitman is best known for directing “Thank You for Smoking,” “Juno,” and “Up in the Air,” the latter two garnering directing nominations at the Academy Awards.
No release date has been set for “The Frontrunner.”