Irish Eye on Hollywood:
RFK Biopics in the Works for 50th Anniversary of his Death

June 2018 will mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, and Hollywood is ready to mark the occasion with not one but two projects in the works telling the story of the Kennedy brother often considered the most Irish and Catholic. First there is a major motion picture featuring Matt Damon as RFK, who ran for president in 1968, only to be gunned down after winning the California primary. The Dark Tower director Nikolaj Arcel wrote the script for the film, currently entitled RFK. This past summer, Arcel also signed on to direct. RFK also stars Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, and is slated for a summer 2018 release. Meanwhile, streaming TV service Hulu will also produce a mini-series about Bobby Kennedy, starring Chris Pine, best known for playing Captain Kirk in recent Star Trek flicks. Based on Larry Tye’s book Bobby Kennedy: The Making Of A Liberal Icon, the as-yet-untitled Kennedy Hulu series will be written and executive-produced by network TV veteran Todd E. Kessler (The Practice, The Good Wife). Hulu has had success with Kennedy material in the past. A few years back, they produced the sprawling series 11/22/63, based on Stephen King’s book about JFK’s assassination, and starring James Franco. ♦