Made for TV: Casting the John Edwards Affair

By Jo Piazza Posted Feb 14th 2010 01:00PM

If the John Edwards' affair scandal isn't a ready-made television movie, then we just don't know what is. Politics, sex tapes, bribery, a love child denied! All the key elements are there. A suave Southern Senator (with unflappable hair) and his loving wife (who also happens to have cancer) decide to take the big leap into national politics and run for president. On the campaign trail, he is seduced by a former party girl turned documentarian and New Age spiritual guru. Despite his devotion to his family, love can't be denied. But as these things always go, no one paid attention in high school sex-ed and the girlfriend gets pregnant. The politician goes for the cover-up, forcing an aide to say the baby is his. The wife stands by her man. The mistress is indignant.

More than a year later, a tell-all book from the scapegoated aide arrives, then comes a confession by the politician and a separation instigated by the poor wife. And now, according to some reports, there just might be a possible wedding between the politician and the mistress (weddings play so well on the big screen.)

This script wrote itself (seriously, Lifetime, let's get this thing greenlit). Now the only question is who to cast for the parts of John Edwards, his shamed wife Elizabeth, the baby mama Rielle Hunter and the aide who spilled all, Andrew Young?

Do you introduce a real-life love triangle into this flick, with Brad Pitt as John Edwards, Jennifer Aniston as the cuckolded wife and Angelina Jolie (in a blonde wig) as the mysterious temptress?

"The Brad, Jen, Angelina story is so five years ago, yet we are still talking about it, but even better, they are still talking about it. So I say let's hash this out on screen once and for all. Whoever gets the Oscar nod wins, and then we stop talking about the three of them as a threesome and America promises to do the same," says radio personality and psychologist Cooper Lawrence.

But the whole reality of the Brangelina love triangle would just take away from the juice of this delicious story. So what about Matt Damon as Edwards (he totally has the hair for it), the lovely Laura Linney as the sympathetic wife and give good old Daryl Hannah a career comeback as the insatiable Ms. Hunter.

"Matt Damon would be perfect as John Edwards -- not only does the coloring match up, but he would be believable as someone who could be as charming at Edwards was," says Corynne Steindler, senior writer for Hollywood Life. "Laura Linney is hardened, witty and feisty, plus I'd like to see her play a politician's wife. And only Daryl Hannah could completely capture Rielle Hunter's crazy face -- not to mention the hair!"

Keeping it serious with the type-casting, Aaron Eckhart could really nail the Edwards-esque smirk, and what about the lovely Andie MacDowell for Elizabeth (because doesn't the story already seem a little bit like 'Groundhog Day'?).

"I think I'd go for Andie MacDowell -- and not just because she's Southern. I see it in the cheekbones. And she's such a sympathetic actress," says Style.com writer Darrell Hartman. "I just saw 'Groundhog Day' on TV the other day and it made me wonder what she's been up to lately. She would also have to put some weight -- I think. Has anyone seen her lately?"

Hartman also thinks 'Up In The Air's' Vera Farmiga could lend an air of gravitas to the character of Rielle. "She's almost got that chin, and I think she could help us see Rielle's sex appeal. Vera Farmiga is a total chameleon. And I think there are lots of moviegoers out there, like me, who would watch her in just about anything," Hartman says.

For some reason, the Edwards' affair has got us feeling this season of HBO's 'Big Love,' what with Bill's far-fetched run for public office and all the skeletons hiding in his closet. So what about Bill Paxton as Edwards, Mary Kay Place as Elizabeth and a crazy Rosanna Arquette as Rielle?

"Arquette has that same 'Desperately Seeking Susan' look as Rielle and Mary Kay Place, besides her physical resemblance to Elizabeth, just looks like she could be John's mom," says New York-based comedy writer Caroline Waxler.

The only person we can see playing scapegoat-turned-tattle-tale Andrew Young is Bradley Whitford, and we know it's a 'West Wing' hangover. But doesn't he just seem ready-made for the line, "I've had no choice but to tell the whole truth, because we waited for two years for John Edwards to tell the truth."

Or better yet, as Waxler suggests: Whitford's real-life alter ego and inspiration for his 'West Wing' character, current White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, in a bit of delicious stunt casting.

At the end of the day, why doesn't everyone play themselves, bring in Jeff Probst and head to the Costa Rican jungle. Our money's on Elizabeth.

Tags: Andrew Young, Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards, mary kay place, matt damon, Rielle Hunter, Vera Farmiga

Comments

(57)

Sunday 14 February

By abbybunky

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Best fit for John Edwards would be Dennis Quaid to me. (Or just let John Edwards play himself. He may need the money soon).

By Tex

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Jude Law has the experience for the John Edwards role, and Sienna Miller has the experience for the Rielle Hunter role. ugh!

By pugz

how about charlie sheen? he likes 'em crazy, too!

By wes

Absolutely Dennis Quaid, the boy is spot on.

Monday 15 February

By Mary

I vote for Dennis Quaid Too!
He is perfect for the part!

By Marty Thomas

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I think Tom Cruise would be perfect. He has that same cheesy smile that always make me think of a snake. And he is just too pretty, yes pretty, not handsome, not to think every woman in the world is panting after him.

By Jenny

We dodged a bullet. This dirt bag could have been our president. You reap what you sow, John.

By isitjustme

Donny Osmond!

By ObamaDemocrat

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how about Andrew Dice Clay?

By nobody

TV smart alecs' make honey-money.. while mob wants more blood, tears and torn apart families; who cares? get even..like in Rome (coliseum) "give them what they want and they will love you."

By MC

Tom Cruise or Rob Lowe should play John Edwards.

By Davison

Why not use Bill Clinton? He is sleezy enough and can easily play a cheating politician, probably in his sleep!

By darkrosaleen

How about that old lady from "Something About Mary" as Rielle Hunter?

By Dana

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I think John Cusack would be perfect to play John Edwards.

By RL

Spencer Pratt

By k

Rob Lowe

By Glorious

Brad Pitt, how classy can you get?

By Ben

Boris Karloff. Need to keep an actor who can truly portray John Edwards black heart. Not that Boris Karloff had a black heart. But he could sure act the part.

By Margaret

Read it all in the papers. Read all the 'news' on AOL. Saw it all on T.V. soooo...why would I waste money paying to see it at the movies.
Not enough interest for this plan to go forward. Will be one huge colossal bust at the box office, regardeless of who plays whom!

By moveover

Elizabeth Edwards wants to sue the aide for her troubles. LOL
How about ugly Rielle and her sleazy, conceited husband.

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