Actor Paul Dano is now slated to star in the new Art Linklater picture, “College Republicans,” portraying GOP heavy-hitter and former George W. Bush advisor Karl Rove. He will playing a young version of the political operative in a comedy-drama about his time running for president of the College Republicans, when Rove and infamous “strategist” Lee Atwater worked together on what’s been termed a “dirty” campaign for the post.
The script, written by Wes Jones, topped the 2010 Black List of unproduced screenplays and has raised the eyebrows of other prolific actors, including Shia LaBeouf, who previously expressed an interest in the part. But Dano — who played a charismatic preacher in “There Will Be Blood” and a nihilistic teen in “Little Miss Sunshine” — should be able to add his own fire and humor to the story of Rove.
