Matt Damon Cast as Robert F. Kennedy

As Long As There Is Plenty, Poverty Is Evil

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (16)

This could not be more perfect casting. According to Deadline, Matt Damon — well-spoken Boston native short in stature — has just signed a deal to star as Robert F. Kennedy — well-spoken Boston native short in stature — in a film about the assassinated presidential candidates life. Gary Ross will direct the movie, based on Steven Knight’s (Eastern Promises) script.

The deal, however, is contingent upon the script — Damon won’t sign on unless it’s great, because that’s the Matt Damon way, folks. The movie, based on the Evan Thomas biography His Life, is expected to follow the life of RFK and how it was he managed to rise out of the shadow of his older brother. Spoiler Alert: He dies in the end.

I couldn’t think of a better actor to take the role of RFK, and honestly, it’s a life story that needs Damon, Ross, and Steven Knight. They should handily wash the taste of Emilio Estevez’s Bobby out of our cinematic mouths (a flat celebrity ensemble that nevertheless managed to be slightly effective in the end, if only because the act of watching RFK get assassinated — even in as bad a recreation as Estevez offered up — is stirring).

It’s going to be a hard movie to watch. You’re going to weep buckets. And my guess is that this one will get Damon the Best Actor award that Invictus won’t (that is, if he doesn’t get it for True Grit first).

I also like the dichotomy between Matt Damon as RFK and Matt Damon as this guy:

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Comments

Perfect. Casting.

And Scarlett could play Marilyn!!

Posted by: Bizarro Sofía at February 24, 2010 9:36 AM

Damn it! Now that song will be playing in my head all day!

Posted by: Katers at February 24, 2010 9:55 AM

As someone who is obsessed (obsessed) with RFK I think this is a good casting choice. Excited to see this movie!

Posted by: Person at February 24, 2010 10:09 AM

You’re going to weep buckets.
---
Oh dear Godtopus on a crutch, if they sweeten him up I'll puke. Bobby was a real hardass son of a bitch. It's amazing the Mob or the Teamsters didn't take him out before Sirhan did.

THAT movie would be fun to watch.

Posted by: , at February 24, 2010 10:24 AM

I love Damon, I'm a Kennedy whore (politically, I hasten to add) and I adore Knight's work.

If there is any time to make suggestions, could we push Knight toward writing a gym locker-room scene (those Kennedys were sporting types) so that Matt can recreate the full frontal Viggo moment from Eastern Promises? Because THAT would make my day.

Posted by: PaddyDog at February 24, 2010 11:05 AM

Scotty is a dumbass. She's Kristin Kreuk for calamari's sake -- she does everybody.

Posted by: hater from siloam springs at February 24, 2010 12:03 PM

As Long As There Is Plenty, Poverty is Evil

What an absolutely perfect quote for capturing the absurdity and ridiculousness of liberalism. And I agree that this is a great casting choice. Nothing but love for Matt Damon and I'd like to see his take on Bobby Kennedy. In related news I heard they were going to do aThe Patriotic Acts of Teddy Kennedy movie, but turns out the film would have only been five minutes long and consisted of one death bed scene.

Posted by: EricD at February 24, 2010 12:17 PM

Sometimes tells me that EricD would not consider himself liberal.

It's just a theory, mind you.

Posted by: Thurgod at February 24, 2010 12:23 PM

Hollywood finally got something right.

Though maybe for a change Matt could suddenly knock out the guy who assasinated RFK--you know, Jason Bourne style lol.

Posted by: grace b at February 24, 2010 12:27 PM

Shut UP, Sofia. Let's keep BoringTits out of this.

Spoiler Alert: He dies in the end.

Hee. You're horrible, Dustin.

Posted by: figgy at February 24, 2010 12:38 PM

Figgy, that's even worse than "The Passion of Christ" spoiler that some sick fuck forced upon me.

Posted by: Thurgod at February 24, 2010 1:26 PM

Now, this is makes up for yesterday's 50 Cent debacle. This time, I passed out and woke up covered in rainbows.

TK, I hope you're paying attention!!

Posted by: Jelinas at February 24, 2010 2:07 PM

Jonny Lee Miller should totally play Ted Kennedy. Which may or may not have occurred to me during the many documentaries about him around the time of his death.

Posted by: Annie at February 24, 2010 5:25 PM

How cool, my daughter just finished up a research project and paper on RFK. It was cool hearing her talk about her admiration for him and her sadness in knowing his life was cut short too soon.

Damon is PERFECT for this.

Posted by: Snuggiepants the Deathbringer at February 24, 2010 11:50 PM

Amazing to see the consensus on this casting-Damon's correct in waiting to see what the script looks like, because expectations will be sky-high.

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Posted by: Jim at February 26, 2010 1:52 AM

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As Long As There Is Plenty, Poverty Is Evil

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