As a man known for his legendary ability not to be found when filmmakers come calling, Bill Murray is something of a big fish to land. He responds only to scripts he likes, directors he sparks to or favours to friends (see: his cameo in Zombieland), so we can now all wonder which one led to him playing US president Franklin D Roosevelt in Hyde Park On Hudson. You can watch the first trailer for the comedy drama below.
brightcove.createExperiences();The film is based on the real-life meeting in 1939 between FDR, his wife Eleanor (Olivia Williams) and King George VI (Samuel West), who became the first British monarch to visit with the US president. Showing up with wife Elizabeth (Olivia Colman), aka the late Queen Mother, the King arrived for what was a tense meet-and-greet, with the monarch hoping FDR would offer help as the clouds of war began to gather. Fortunately for His Maj, the Prez proved to be a witty, charming host, his mood brightened by the arrival of cousin Margaret Suckley (Laura Linney), with whom he was rumoured to be having an affair.
Hyde Park looks to be a warmer antidote to the usual stuffy period piece, and an unofficial follow-up to The King’s Speech. With Roger Michell directing, the film will be out across the pond on December 7, and while there’s no set UK date yet, we’d expect it shortly after that.
Murray fans, meanwhile, can read part of our exclusive interview with the man at Cannes right here, and expect what promises to be a legendary edition of Pint Of Milk in a future issue of Empire.