The 2000 presidential recount in South Florida is stirring up controversy again, this time in Hollywood.
HBO, which will air a docudrama called “Recount” during next year’s campaign season, has asked producer-director Jay Roach to direct the project. Legendary movieman Sydney Pollack was originally slated to direct, but he stepped down for personal reasons, according to Variety.
Roach’s selection is raising eyebrows because he’s known for comedic fare. He directed the entire “Austin Powers” franchise, “Meet the Fockers” and “Meet the Parents.” He was also a producer on “Borat” and executive producer on the ill-fated Showtime series “American Candidate” in 2004.
The popular DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com blog says, “You can bet pundits will put the movie under even more of a microscope now. … It’s as if HBO has a death wish and is virtually asking pundits to critically kill ‘Recount’ before it even airs.”
