Homeland and Billions’ Damian Lewis has been cast in Run This Town alongside Ben Platt, Nina Dobrev and Mena Massoud.
Lewis will play ex Toronto Mayor, Rob Ford, a politician who was shrouded in controversies when he became embroiled in a substance abuse scandal. Following his admission, Ford refused to resign, but City Council handed over certain mayoral powers and office staff to Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly for the remainder of Ford’s term. Ford took a sabbatical and received treatment for his alcohol and drug addiction. He died at the tender age of 46 from Cancer.
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The film is understood to follow a reporter (Ben Platt) who attempts to expose a scandal involving a politician who doesn’t play by the rules. The politician’s aides, played by Nina Dobrev and Mena Massoud, try their best to handle him and keep the story suppressed.The story is told against the backdrop of the last year of his mayoral term.
Lewis character is obviously based on a real person but the other characters – which there is currently no information for – are said to be fictitious. Joining Lewis, Dobrev, Platt and Massoud on the cast are Scott Speedman and Jennifer Ehle.
The fictionalised drama is being filmed in Ford’s hometown of Toronto, Canada.
Lewis was last seen on the big screen opposite Ewan McGregor in the 2016 Our Kind of Traitor, He has since been starring in TV series Billions in which he plays Bobby Axelrod in a story which has U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades going after hedge fund king Bobby “Axe” Axelrod in a battle between two powerful New York figures.
