February 24th, 2010
12:41 PM ET

Matt Damon attached to RFK biopic

Matt Damon

Deadline Hollywood reports that Matt Damon has been tapped to portray Robert F. Kennedy in a new biopic based on the Evan Thomas biography, "Robert Kennedy: His Life."

Damon's rep confirmed to CNN that Damon is attached to the project, and added that it's still in the very early stages of development.

The actor has been riding a wave of critical success as of late with leading roles in two of 2009's notable films, "The Informant!" as well as "Invictus," the latter of which has earned Damon an Oscar nod for best supporting actor.

Do you think he can pull off the role of RFK? And if not Damon, who?


Filed under: Matt Damon • movies

soundoff (28 Responses)
  1. Str8 Outta TX

    not that they arent great actors. i am just hoping to see who is coming to stardom from my generation.

    February 25, 2010 at 11:02 am | Report abuse | Reply
  2. AMP

    Yes we did have a movie called Bobby. But that is only about the day he got shot. Not so much a story about RFK but what was happening with everybody around the hotel the day he was killed.

    February 25, 2010 at 9:47 am | Report abuse | Reply
  3. Robin

    Matt is a great actor, probably one of the best. He will be awesome as Kennedy!

    February 25, 2010 at 8:53 am | Report abuse | Reply
  4. Ryan

    Didn't we just have a Bobby Kennedy movie???

    February 25, 2010 at 7:47 am | Report abuse | Reply
  5. jesus

    i think that tiger woods should play him that way it will be more believable when he cheats with monroe

    February 25, 2010 at 5:49 am | Report abuse | Reply
  6. Bill Brasky

    Mwaaat Daamon!

    February 25, 2010 at 4:13 am | Report abuse | Reply
  7. Robert

    I think he's a wonderful actor and is extremely well matched for the part. I look forward to the film.

    February 25, 2010 at 1:27 am | Report abuse | Reply
  8. McBlueFire

    Dear Becky – Martin Sheen is 70. Matt Damon is 39. RFK was 42 when he died.
    No amount of make-up can make Sheen look 40ish

    February 25, 2010 at 12:50 am | Report abuse | Reply
  9. Pete

    Martin Sheen? Really? Damon will be really good.

    February 24, 2010 at 10:44 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  10. DW

    Oh Elizabeth, the avoider of truth. You are an Ostrich.

    February 24, 2010 at 9:21 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  11. Becky

    Why can't Martin Sheen play Bobby? He's more believable than Damon! PLEASE!!! Don't ruin a decent film about Bobby using Damon!

    February 24, 2010 at 9:11 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  12. Becky

    Why can;t Martin Sheen play Bobby!? he's more believable than Damon!

    February 24, 2010 at 9:09 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  13. Erin

    MAAATT DAAAMON (team america) lol

    February 24, 2010 at 8:57 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  14. sallie Wilmot

    About time they focused on the "other Brother".. I think he was the real brain' s in the family. Love to see Matt Damon bring him back to life!!

    February 24, 2010 at 8:33 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  15. prankster

    Matt could play RFK and do it with style! He is a fine actor!

    February 24, 2010 at 8:07 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  16. GoFarver****

    Matt Damon

    February 24, 2010 at 7:24 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  17. liz

    Absolutely the best guy for the job! and Im sure he can whip out that Boston accent at the drop of a hat! Who doesnt love those boston boys? He was great in the Bourne movies, and since thankfully the public knows very little about his real life,etc. it'll probably be able to buy him as a Kennedy....those stars whose lives are an open book have a hard time convincing me to suspend disbelief!

    February 24, 2010 at 6:30 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  18. Shane

    Damon has the understated swagger an actor would need for this part. The Boston connection would bring an intangible to the role that I think would be hard to find somewhere else.

    February 24, 2010 at 5:48 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  19. Wayne Messer

    He's perfect and he's from BOSTON what more do you need.

    AFLECK as his brother JOHN gessh give them a break.

    Although, it wouldn't be a bad idea. Hell AFLECK could do JFK jr for that matter. I hope they made the movie period.

    February 24, 2010 at 5:23 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  20. bEA

    He would be a natural for this part.....!

    February 24, 2010 at 5:18 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  21. MoneyTx

    Cruise just signed up for Mission Impossible 4....

    February 24, 2010 at 5:05 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  22. Str8 outta TX

    what's up with the next Bourne movie.
    i realize the final books are not in fact written by robert ludlum, but they follow the same story and format.
    ================================================
    another thing thats on my mind (probably more relevant): actors that are aging, need to stop playing so many hardcore Action roles. tom cruise has no more mission impossibles, etc.

    February 24, 2010 at 4:22 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  23. Kim

    I find it hard to picture Damon as RFK, but that's why they call it acting.
    I guess his portrayal will be less about looking like him and more about evoking the man himself. I've read the Evan Thomas book, so I am looking forward to this.

    February 24, 2010 at 2:54 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  24. Elizabeth

    Debra – Do you enjoy life at all? Unless the movie is a documentary, then it is made for enjoyment and does not have to follow history book text. Its called creative license and without it movies would not be the outlet for most folks they are intended to be.

    February 24, 2010 at 2:52 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  25. Debra

    Matt will be perfect... a very under-rated actor.

    If you READ history instead of watching movies then you get the entire picture. Film makers tend to delete or outright lie... examples Cinderella Man, A Few Good Men, Braveheart, Inherit The Wind.

    February 24, 2010 at 2:06 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  26. LBW

    Yep, he was all Kennedy. Matt will be great for that part.

    February 24, 2010 at 1:43 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  27. Head Diva In Charge

    Debra downer – thanks for the info.
    I think Matt Damon will do well – love those Boston boys!

    February 24, 2010 at 1:39 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  28. Debra

    Hopefully this won't be the white washed version...Bobby Kennedy did great things but he was also a womanizing, cheater.....in other words, he was not a 2 deminsional hero.....he was a flawed man who accomplished much...like Schindler....he convinced his brother to get on board with the civil rights movement....but he also shared Monroe with his brother...

    February 24, 2010 at 12:58 pm | Report abuse | Reply

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