Hugh Jackman has revealed to Vulture that he will in fact play the role of segregation enforcer Sheriff Jim Clark in Lee Daniels’ upcoming civil-rights drama, “Selma.”
Clark gained worldwide attention for violent arrests that involved tear-gassing and brutal beatings in the infamous Bloody Sunday incident during the 1965 civil-rights marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. He was voted out of office the following year, turned to selling mobile homes for a living and was also later convicted of drug crimes.
The role will be an interesting turn for Jackman, whose clean-cut, family man image has led to predominantly token ‘good guy’ roles. Could this potentially be an Oscar-baity role? After all, the last three winners of Best Supporting Actor have been villains.
Also starring in Daniels’ pic will be Robert De Niro who’ll play racist Governor George Wallace and Lenny Kravitz as civil rights activist Andrew Young. Shooting begins in May.