Jeffrey Wright Signs 9 Pic Deal as Colin Powell
While he was far from being the main character, Jeffrey Wright made a memorable turn in Oliver Stone’s W. as former Secretary of State Colin Powell. The thesp signed a lucrative 9-picture deal Wednesday with Lionsgate to reprise his role in future movies, portraying Powell in varying ages.
Though there’s currently no plans for a Colin Powell biopic, the studio is expecting Wright to appear as the former four-star General in other political dramas about real-life figures.
“Ultimately, the idea is to build a cohesive universe,” said a studio rep. “We believe that by linking these stories together, the audience would be able to see a bigger world than what we just show on screen. It’s as if these characters live in an actual, fully realized world of their own.”
Right now, Lionsgate is prepping Vice, a biopic of former Vice President Dick Cheney starring Richard Dreyfuss, reprising his W. role. The film tracks Cheney’s accomplishments, from his 1978 heart attack to his recent back injury. Powell will briefly appear as his intellectual adversary in the film.
Other proposed films where Wright’s Powell might appear in include biopics of Barack Obama, Saddam Hussein and Bill Clinton; a mockumentary about the My Lai Massacre; and 50 Pounds, the story of John McCain’s POW experience.
