Published at 4:15 PM on March 27, 2009

By Gray Chapman

Clinton biopic The Special Relationship to star Quaid, Moore

We're pretty sure that if only Oliver Stone had followed our advice and cast Renee Zellweger as George Bush in his largely forgettable biopic, W, the movie would have attracted a bit more buzz, even if it was only in praise of Zellweger's dead-on "I just ingested an entire pack of Sour Patch Kids" facial impression. It looks like Hollywood has ignored our invaluable casting advice once again with the recent buzz about the new and improved (and tightened, and tweaked, and probably tanned) Clinton couple that will appear in an upcoming biopic directed by Peter Morgan. Dennis Quaid and Julianne Moore are Morgan's top picks to play the pair.

Peter Morgan's directorial debut is titled The Special Relationship. No, not that relationship, but rather the political one between the Clintons and former Prime Minister Tony Blair. But honestly, we're a bit tired of the heavy political biopics that rained upon us throughout election season. Plus, there's nothing really exciting about a lead actor whose next big project is yet another live-action slaughtering of a favorite childhood memory. Which is why we're still sticking to our original suggestion of casting sparkly-eyed, grinny-faced Hugh Grant as Bill. And who better to represent his alpha companion than the lascivious Elizabeth Hurley? She seems like she could do a good job of laying down the law, Hillary-style. 


Besides, the entire Bill/Hill dynamic just smacks of romantic-comedy material. You've got a hapless, charming playboy, his whip-cracking, scorned wife, and a naive young intern, all adding up to a rollicking, all-in-good-fun love triangle. Bill's straightlaced buddy Tony is stuck in the middle of all the drama, especially since his sassy wife Cherie is helping Hillary plot revenge. Throw 'em all in Camp David for a week and let the Hill-arity ensue! Peter Morgan, your work is done. Unless Matthew McConaughey gets his hands on it first.

But alas, there will probably be no wacky antics or feel-good moments in Morgan's film. Most disappointing of all, perhaps, is the news that there will be no Monica Lewinsky character; Morgan plans on using archival footage only. The Special Relationship will also feature Michael Sheen as Tony Blair, for the third time in Sheen's acting career (after 2003's The Deal and 2006's The Queen). Helen McCrory will also be reprising her role from The Queen as Cherie Blair. The HBO film is expected to be complete by 2011. 

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