Minka Kelly replaces Mila Kunis as Jackie Kennedy in The Butler while Matthew McConaughey lands president role
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Minka Kelly will be stepping up to the big leagues after being cast as Jackie Kennedy in a powerful all-star cast of The Butler.
Director Lee Daniel, in Cannes screening his newest film, The Paperboy, said in an interview with Screen Daily that he had previously been eyeing Mila Kunis for the role of Jackie, but has now definitely decided on Kelly.
Matthew McConaughey, 42, will play Jack Kennedy.
Minka's in, Mila's out: Mila Kunis was rumoured to be the shoo-in to play Jackie Kennedy in a new movie called The Butler, but it was revealed yesterday that Minka Kelly, pictured here last night in Los Angeles, won the role
The last time a young, brunette starlet was picked to play Jackie Onassis Kennedy, it was Katie Holmes in the TV miniseries The Kennedys.
But The Butler is no miniseries. Lee, the producer of Monster's Ball and director of Precious, is rumoured to have a tremendous script in hand and a bevy of huge stars including Nicole Kidman, Jane Fonda, John Cusak, Lenny Kravitz and Cuba Gooding Jr. Shooting begins in July.
Kelly, who famously dated New York Yankee short stop Derek Jeter, is largely known for her role as a television actress on the programme Friday Night Lights.
Most recently, she was seen in the reboot of Charlie's Angels, which was cancelled after just one season.
Confirmed: Matthew McConaughey has been cast in the role of President Jack Kennedy while Oscar winner Forest Whitaker is signed to play Eugene Allen, the main character in The Butler
The Butler is based on the true story of Eugene Allen, who during 50 years of service, worked for eight different White House presidents.
Oscar winner Forest Whitaker will star as Allen while Oprah Winfrey will have a small role as his daughter.
Other cast members include Alan Rickman, who will play Ronald Reagan. Liam Needson is said to be tapped to play Lyndon B. Johnson.
Camelot: John Kennedy (pictured with wife, Jackie) is just one of eight presidents White House butler Eugene Allen served
