Originally set to be released later this year, The Weinstein Company opted to bring Lee Daniels’ The Butler forward on their calendar, and the question begs whether they are trying to change the current trend of releasing Oscar-primed films in the late autumn/early winter.
Oreviously known solely as ‘The Butler’, but now officially known as ‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler’ due to problems with Warner Bros. and the title, the biopic will be released in US cinemas next weekend. And now IMDb have launched the latest featurette.
THE BUTLER tells the story of a White House butler who served eight American presidents over three decades. The film traces the dramatic changes that swept American society during this time, from the civil rights movement to Vietnam and beyond, and how those changes affected this man’s life and family.
Forest Whitaker is front and centre here as the butler, Cecil Gaines, based on the real-life account of Eugene Allen. Starring alongside Whitaker is a very impressive cast, led by Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Jane Fonda, Alex Pettyfer, Terrence Howard, Lenny Kravitz, David Oyelowo, Melissa Leo, Vanessa Redgrave, Alan Rickman, Liev Schreiber, Robin Williams, James Marsden, Jesse Williams, Minka Kelly, and Mariah Carey.
Daniels (Precious) is directing from a script he co-wrote with Danny Strong (Game Change, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay), based on Will Haygood’s article, A Butler Well Served by This Election.
Lee Daniels’ The Butler will be released in the US on August 16th. No word yet on a UK release date, but it ought to arrive before the year’s end.
