Image Credit: Everett CollectionMichelle Obama’s favorability rating stands at a whopping 78 percent, but she’s about to get some competition from another popular First Lady with an even more famous ‘do. Next year, it was announced yesterday, six hours of intimate interviews that the late Jackie Kennedy sat down for in 1964 — just months after her husband was assassinated — will be released by Hyperion Books. The interviews, conducted by family friend Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., reportedly cover everything from President Kennedy’s early political campaigns to the Cuban Missile Crisis to the complexities of the Kennedy family relations. But that’s not all: There may soon be a Jackie O movie, as well. As Hollywood Insider reported earlier today, Rachel Weisz has just been cast as the title character in Jackie, a biopic to be directed and produced by Weisz’s fiancee, Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler). The movie, currently shopping for a studio, will focus on the four days and nights following JFK’s murder in Dallas.
All of this got us thinking. Aside from Jackie Kennedy and Michelle Obama (and Hillary Clinton), we can’t think of any other First Ladies we’d want to see on the screen, much less hear from on old audio tape. But maybe we’re wrong. What do you think, Pop Watchers? Should Hollywood be working on Bess!, the gripping tale of Harry Truman’s wife? Or how about Rosalynn of Plains, the romantic adventures of Jimmy Carter’s true love? Somehow, it’s not working for us. But maybe you have a better idea…
Any thoughts about who would be playing Jackie O in the movie?
ummm. how about rachel weisz like the article says?
Justine Waddell would have been a better choice to play Jackie. To the question raised about other first ladies, there have been plenty of compelling women in history, Jackie would not be the most interesting, and Michelle has done nothing of note yet. Edith Wilson was thought to have run things while her husband was not capable, she was noted as being the first female president of the U.S. Eleanor Roosevelt also comes to mind. EW is hilarious in its narrow view of the world. If it has not occurred in the last 10 years or so prominent in pop culture, it might as well not exist – cough*Twilight*cough
Sure there are plenty of former First Ladies that I’d find interesting enough to watch on the big screen: Betty Ford, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mary Lincoln, Dolley Madison to name several.
Eleanor Roosevelt, definitely! She should be the standard First Lady that all the others are compared to.
All excellent choices! Ford has her alcoholism, Roosevelt for her pioneering ways, Lincoln for her mental breakdown and Madison for her actions during the War of 1812.
Yeah, Elanor Roosevelt, of course!!
definately eleanor roosevelt. i can’t believe they left that out! also abigail adams was pretty awesome. a total feminist before her time. she would be interesting.
I’m sorry, but really, Jackie is always at the center of pop culture. Last week I wore sunglasses- not the “Jackie O” sunglasses, just regular sunglasses- and a bunch of coworkers kept making Jackie references, talking about some other book that’s going to be written about her, etc.
HBO’s John Adams only gave us a glimpse at what a remarkable woman Abigail Adams was. Had she lived in an era that allowed more for women, she would have been a pro-active First Lady much like Eleanor Roosevelt and Michelle Obama.
Eleanor Roosevelt is also very fascinating. She remained a strong figure for the rest of her life following FDR’s death and her advice was sought and respected.
Eleanor Roosevelt.
Dolley Madison absolutely. Highly underrated as a first lady.
Eleanor Roosevelt definitely. She was such an inspiring person.
“we can’t think of any other First Ladies we’d want to see on the screen”
No one at ew.com thought of Eleanor Roosevelt? Really?
Eleanor Roosevelt
Seriously, no Eleanor Roosevelt, one of the most influential women, let alone person, of the 20th century? I’d love to watch a movie about her
I’m not really sure what she accomplished, but I think a movie titled Lady Bird would be pretty neat.
I thought of Lady Bird, but primarily because I think I heard she was one of the most cheated on First Ladies – a difficult title to attain.
Curtis Sittenfeld’s fictional biography of Laura Bush, “American Wife”, is wonderful, although I don’t think it would translate well to the screen becasue of the focus on the internal monologue.
So I guess the folks at EW can’t stretch their minds past the last 50 years huh?
As many have already pointed out, how a list like this leaves out Eleanor Roosevelt is BEYOND me. Then there are all the other fascinating women already mentioned by other posters. Seriously EW, expand your mind.
Jackie never went away from pop culture.
I always through that Kristin Davis should play Jackie. Sometimes when I see Kristin Davis I see Jackie….