Clive Owen will next portray a former president of the United States, as theGemini Manstar has signed on to play Bill Clinton inImpeachment: American Crime Story. Previously, it had been reported that the nextAmerican Crime Storyseries would follow Clinton’s scandal involving Monica Lewinsky and his subsequent impeachment. Now, it’s been confirmed Owen will be taking on the role of the famous Democratic politician, with production on the series set to begin in late March. The series is tentatively set to premiere on Sept. 27, 2020, about a month ahead of the next U. S. Presidential election.
Several other cast members forImpeachmenthave also been revealed to star alongsideClive Owenin the series. This includes Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp, the White House staffer who secretly recorded phone calls with Lewinsky discussing the affair with Clinton, and Annaleigh Ashford as Paula Jones, the former Arkansas state employee who suedBilll Clintonfor sexual harassment. With the real Lewinsky also producing the series, the woman at the center of the scandal will also be portrayed byBooksmartstar Beanie Feldstein. It is said that the part of Hillary Clinton has not yet been cast, though she is expected to appear as producers are still looking for an actress to play her in the series.
As the third season of Ryan Murphy’sAmerican Crime Storyseries,Impeachmentis written by exec producer Sarah Burgess. The new season is based on the Jeffrey Toobin bestsellerA Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President. Perhaps not so coincidentally, Toobin also penned the 1997 bookThe Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson, which inspired the first season ofAmerican Crime Story. If you missed it, the second season explored the assassination of Gianni Versace by spree killer Andrew Cunanan, based on the Maureen Orth bookVulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U. S. History.
Production onImpeachmentoddly comes at a time when the current president of the United States, Donald Trump, is facing impeachment himself. This fact is not lost on series creator Ryan Murphy, who acknowledges the timing and suggests that the situations are rather similar. “We do a show that is very thoroughly fact-checked and vetted and based on bestselling books by Jeffrey Toobin,” Murphy told Deadline. He adds, “I think the reason why it’s interesting is because you don’t have to change anything to feel modern. And I think that idea of impeachment obviously with Trump is fascinating. I wouldn’t say that we’re changing things that much or mentioning Trump at all in our narrative.”
Physically, Owen seems like he’ll make a fine Clinton, so as long as his hair is dyed the appropriate shade of gray. He’ll likely do a fantastic job acting in the role as well. Still, what we’re all really waiting for is to see if he’ll recite the classic line, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” To not include the legendary saying would be a travesty, as it’s perhaps the most-quoted line of the ’90s. This news comes to us fromDeadline.
