Lee Daniels To Rewrite And Direct THE BUTLER As SELMA Continues To Wait

Lee Daniels was set to direct the civil rights movie SELMA, he even lined up impressive cast including Liam Neeson as Lyndon B. Johnson, Cedric The Entertainer as Ralph Abernathy, Hugh Jackman as racist sheriff Jim Clark, Lenny Kravitz as activist Andrew Young and David Oyelowo as the great Martin Luther King Jr. But while SELMA is waiting for financing, Deadline reported that the Oscar nominated Daniels (Precious) has signed on to rewrite and direct THE BUTLER…

The deal is done with Sony Pictures Entertainment, Daniels is going to rewrite the draft previously penned by Danny Strong (Recount). THE BUTLER is a Laura Ziskin-produced drama based on the true story of Eugene Allen, who was a servant in the White House for over 34 years under 8 Presidents who each wrestled with and finally “stem the tide of segregation”
It’s an adaptation based on a series article about Butler, written by Wil Haygood. The long retired Allen was invited to be a guest at the inauguration of the United States’ first African American President, Barack Obama.
Production is expected to start at year’s end and word has it Denzel Washington is circling the lead role, Allen. I certainly can’t think of a better man for the job.

So THE BUTLER might be Daniels’ next project that is if SELMA doesn’t get funding first but The Weinstein Company may contribute $8Million for domestic distribution with Pathe to match that amount.
SELMA revolves around the historic marches staged by King in 1965 in Selma, Alabama, to help get voting rights for African Americans listed.

The movie will focus much on President Lyndon B. Johnson and the situation that led him to change his position from being reluctant to signing the Civil Rights act. Paul Webb wrote the script, produced by Christian Colson (Slumdog Millionaire)