It feels sort of noteworthy that Bill Murray is only now for the first time portraying a real-life character, given how eclectic his CV has become, especially in more recent years (and no, we aren’t going to count Murray playing himself in Zombieland).
That real-life character is FDR, US president from 1933 to 1945, architect of the New Deal which dragged the USA out of The Great Depression and eventually the President that marshalled the US through their involvement in WWII. The film in question, is “Hyde Park on the Hudson”, which rather than dealing with those better-known highlights of FDR’s presidency, will instead focus on a visit from the British Royal family to his home in 1939. The visitors were none other than King George (who will be played by Samuel West – Van Helsing) and his wife Queen Elizabeth (to be played by Olivia Coleman – Hot Fuzz, Tyrannosaur) and the film will also shed light on FDR’s affair with his cousin, Margaret Stuckley, who will be played by Laura Linney.
Director Roger Michell (who previously directed Notting Hill, Changing Lanes and Enduring Love) has been full of praise regarding Murray’s work, who apparently did plenty of research to enable him to properly convey so iconic a historical figure:-
“We put Bill in touch with people who have polio and with a physiotherapist, who made calipers and taught him how to walk with them. He captured the voice of the man, the tilt of his chin, that trademark cigarette holder and his way of spreading confidence.”
We also have a first shot (see below) of Murray in character and costume as FDR. He certainly looks the part and given his undoubted ability, we would expect it to be another deft and effective performance as well.
