If you’re like me, seeing a play on Broadway is one of those once in a lifetime experiences. Not because it is so hard to get into a show, but more because I’d rather save my money on booze and ramen noodles. Luckily if a show is good enough, they usually adapt it for film and television.
That’s the case with Bryan Cranston’s turn as President Lyndon Johnson in All The Way, now coming to HBO with the help of Stephen Spielberg. From Deadline:
Emmy winner Cranston will reprise his role as President Lyndon Johnson, with Pulitzer Prize-winner Schenkkan writing the adaptation. The film will be produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television as well as Tale Told Prods. and Moon Shot Entertainment, with Spielberg, Darryl Frank & Justin Falvey, Schenkkan and Cranston executive producing and James Degus co-executive producing.
As Deadline reported last month, Spielberg recently optioned the play with the intention of adapting it for TV with Cranston as the star. Him teaming with HBO is not a surprise given their long history with the Emmy-winning epic miniseries Band Of Brothers and The Pacific, the latter of which Schenkkan worked on as a writer and co-producer.
The play tells the tale of Johnson’s first year in office, dealing with the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination, the rising tide of the Vietnam War, and his work with the Civil Rights Act Of 1964. Cranston won best actor for his portrayal of Johnson and his reprisal for HBO would mark his first television work since the end of Breaking Bad.
One would think most likely be up for Emmy considerations for any television adaptation. Just a guess, of course. He’d be a surefire winner if the play was nothing but LBJ ordering pants. Pants that supported his nuts and comforted his bunghole to the point of maximum efficiency. I suppose they’ll save that for the sequel, along with all that depressing Vietnam War stuff we won’t get to cover.
(Via Deadline / Slash Film)
