Dennis Quaid’s REAGAN Biopic Gets Summer Premiere Date
By Movieguide® Contributor
Dennis Quaid’s REAGAN has just been picked up by ShowBiz Direct for North American distribution.
REAGAN will be the company’s first release from the studio. It’s helmed by industry veteran Kevin Mitchell, former Lionsgate distribution president Richie Fay and the former co-president of Open Road distribution, Scott Kennedy.
“The film will center around aged Soviet spy Viktor Novikov (Jon Voight), who will narrate the story of his enemy [Ronald Reagan], who he dubs ‘The Crusader,’ to a new Russian leader,” Collider reported.
Newsweek explained the movie’s concept further, calling it “a narrative film as opposed to a documentary.”
“[It’s] based on two biographical books by Paul Kengor about the deceased former governor of California and 40th president of the U.S,” the outlet continued. “Voight’s character, though, is fictional, used as a device to show Reagan’s impact on world events, including the eventual downfall of the Soviet Union and how nervous he made communists during the Cold War.”
REAGAN will star Quaid as the former president, Penelope Ann Miller as former First Lady Nancy Reagan and Mena Suvari as Reagan’s first wife Jane Wyman.
“Portraying Ronald Reagan was an enormous challenge,” Quaid told Deadline. “This is an important movie, one of my most interesting roles and I am really excited to work with the ShowBiz team to get this film opened in theaters this Summer.”
Mitchell praised his leading man, saying Quaid “does such an amazing job portraying Reagan.”
“[ShowBiz Direct’s goal] is to help close the gap between the creative community and exhibition while embracing the theatrical release of motion pictures in a very transparent way,” Mitchell continued. “REAGAN was sought by many, and we are happy that we could reach an agreement with Mark Joseph [REAGAN’s producer] and his team.”
REAGAN is set to debut in theaters August 30.
Movieguide® previously reported on Quaid’s thoughts on portraying Reagan:
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE actor Dennis Quaid will portray Ronald Reagan in the upcoming biopic, REAGAN. However, Quaid said he was initially confused why they asked him to play the 40th U.S. president.
“I didn’t understand why they were offering me Ronald Reagan because I just didn’t see it,” Quaid told Entertainment Weekly. “I admired him so much, and so I had a chill of fear go down my spine when I was offered it. That’s usually kind of a sign that maybe I should do it, because it’s out of my comfort zone.”
Quaid said that Reagan is his favorite president, which is why the role was intimidating. But the 66-year-old actor maintains that it is an honor.
“I tried to share some of that human frailty, because none of us are perfect,” he says. “It was an honor to play him.”
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