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 lore

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I think Tom Cruise as John Edwards, Anderson Cooper as Andrew Young,Anne Heche as Rielle Hunter,and Kirstie Alley as Elizabeth Edwards...

By pattyann

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After hearing Elizabeth Edwards childish & vicious voice mails to the Andrew Young family,it makes me wonder if the cancer returning so conveniently @ the beginning of the campaigning wasn't just a trick to garner sympathy for John Edwards. Liz seems to be doing just fine with her inoperable returning cancer! I wouldn't put anything past this corrupt couple!

By mike

Amen!

By Tex

"childish and vicious?" Kind of like listening to voice mail not intended for your ears and then posting hateful opinions?

By jojo

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God that Hunter rag is ugly.

By Good Grief

I typed a very long and thorough message on this site. I might
have misspelled my email address. The correct email address is saimahsharif@my.unt.edu. Please track that message, restore it, and display it on this site. There was a lot of valuable information and it needs to be read. Please post that response. I put so much effort into it. Be fair.

By kellyswt82

Tim Daly would be a good John Edwards

By abbybunky

Tex and Pugz: at a glance I think Dennis Quaid could really look like him. That was the reason I wrote that. Not what these other actors have done in their lives. It goes to their heads!

By Donna

I think Christopher Noth would be a good Edwards

Monday 15 February

By Ruby

Dennis Quaid is definitely the right choice for Edwards and as for Rielle she looks like Kevin Spacey, in a blond wig!

By wes

Maybe Tiger Woods in white face??? Just a thought.

Isn't that the truth, why make a movie, we have seen the real thing!

By pat

Heather Locklear would make a GREAT Rielle Hunter....major resemblance.

By B.P. Dumas

can we all get serious abuot this edwards matter, dudes, this ain't got jack to do with love, forget the sex angle. Thats not the big point anymore. Its a show me the money scandal. Bow wow rielle there, oh by the way,thats a contrived stage name, real name, lisa jo druck, bow wow rielle knew all about where the money which financed all the extracircular nookie there came from,the schmucks and the schnooks who donated money to the edwards presidential campaign. he diverted campaign money for the bow wow. its a serious crime. Guess what, john boy is now accused of beating his cancer stricken wife, he beat and assaulted a woman whose gonna die of cancer. He's also accused of larceny. Personally I'd rather he be convicted by the state of north carolina and windup in a hellpit prison there, rather than some cushy federal prison farm camp somewhere. Hey john boy likes the extracircular sex so much, lets hope he gets imprisoned with a hyped up on meth biker gang banger or some child molester. He'll have more than he can handle.

By Thanksforasking

Courtney Love as Hunter: One partied out blond playing another. The parallels and physical resemblance are delicious.

By Jeremy

I think Bill Clinton would be excellent for the role. He has all the qualities of a despicable person! He is a liar, and has cheated on his wife! He would be perfect! He would not need to act, just carry on like he normally does! LoL!!!

By Julie

Chris Noth as John Edwards.
Sally Fields as Elizabeth Edwards.
Jenny McCarthy as Rielle

By cabbie

Dennis Quaid

By Em

Ellen DeGeneres.......as John Edwards

By ead17

Jo Piazza should audition for the part of John Edward's penis.

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