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Nixon Returns! Now who should play him?

Sep 25, 2006, 12:11 PM | by Scott Brown

Categories: Film

95510__frank_l Thanks to Ron Howard and playwright Peter Morgan, you will have Nixon to kick around a little more. Howard just optioned Morgan’s hit London play Frost/Nixon (about British broadcaster David Frost’s 1977 interviews with the ex-president), which stars Frank Langella (pictured) as Nixon and Michael Sheen as Frost.

All of which raises the question: Who oughta be the new Dick? We’ve seen so many different shades of Nixon over the years, including Anthony Hopkins, Dan Hedaya, Beau Bridges, Dan Aykroyd, Christina Ricci, Philip Baker Hall (in Robert Altman's terrific, barely-known Secret Honor), and somebody named Dr. Jurgen Fauth in something called Ultrachrist! Who can bring nuance, depth, and sympathy to a character who remains, to most of us, a rubber mask and a bad party impression?

I say give it to the Langellator. (Hey, ol’ Frank even made Dave feel politically credible.) Or the actual, historical Skeletor, who I hear is now retired in Teaneck.

So: Has anyone seen Frost/Nixon? Gimme the skinny. And tell me who you think oughta play The Trickster.

norukgx gphyiz Sun, Mar 9, 2008 at 07:01 AM EST

fsir hpldtyqgr mcdxqw ldcpw pneiftgd hogqwndk ygshe

duncan Wed, Feb 7, 2007 at 01:03 AM EST

Gary Oldman is top on their list.

Jakeem Tue, Sep 26, 2006 at 12:48 PM EST

It's spelled A-Y-K-R-O-Y-D!

Sunny Mon, Sep 25, 2006 at 05:47 PM EST

I'm an idiot, I meant to reply to 'john's inquiry. My apologies :)

yawn Mon, Sep 25, 2006 at 05:37 PM EST

Dan Ackroyd, hands down, in a serious role.

mike Mon, Sep 25, 2006 at 04:39 PM EST

I was referring to a classic SNL sketch spoofing the interveiws. They could do worse than those two.

Sunny Mon, Sep 25, 2006 at 04:35 PM EST

mike, that would be Dan Hedaya. Dick is a fantastic movie!

gretchen Mon, Sep 25, 2006 at 02:35 PM EST

Darn! I'm now in London for Grad School and wish I'd known about this play sooner. LOVE Langella! I just called theater and the run is completely sold out. Guess the Brits love him too. I vote for him to reprise role in the film version! (But ooh, Itzin's also a good pick!)

mike Mon, Sep 25, 2006 at 12:52 PM EST

I'm old enough to remember the interviews. It should be a comedy. It should star Dan Ackroyd as Nixon and Eric Idle as Frost.

john Mon, Sep 25, 2006 at 12:08 PM EST

The guy from "Dick" with Kirsten Dunst was hilarious. That guys rules. What's his name again??

Jakeem Mon, Sep 25, 2006 at 11:34 AM EST

Well, I would think Gregory Itzin deserves a shot after his acclaimed portrayal of a Nixonian president in Season 5 of "24."

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