Before last December, Young Il Kim was an economist and aspiring screenwriter. But with the release of the 2012 Black List, which compiles the most buzzed about unproduced screenplays circulating Hollywood, Kim became a writer to watch thanks to his Hillary Rodham Clinton biopic spec script Rodham. For many emerging talents, getting on to the Black List is a step toward getting your movie made. And it Kim's goal is getting closer to fruition as Rodham's producers have secured a noteworthy director for the project.
The Wrap reveals James Ponsoldt has been attached to helm. The indie director first earned buzz in 2012 with the Mary Elizabeth Winstead-fronted drama Smashed. Then, at 2013's Sundance and SXSW he awed critics with his follow-up The Spectacular Now. (Notably, the latter's screenplay was on the Black List in 2009.) Between the buzz around Kim's script and the acclaim Ponsoldt has already earned, this seems like a dovetailing of incredible talent. Now the search begins for a leading lady who will not only capture the spirit of the polarizing politician, but also can stir up interest among potential backers. But who would be right for this role?
Set in the midst of the Watergate Scandal, Rodham focuses on Hillary's youth as a hot shot lawyer, who was the youngest selected for the House Judiciary Committee to Impeach Nixon. At the time Hillary was weighing her options between staying in Washington, D.C. and digging into a career in politics, or reconnecting with her boyfriend Bill Clinton, who was teaching in Arkansas. Of course, we know what she chose, but it's the how that interests Kim. He describes this story as a "journey of a woman who was torn between her personal desires and her professional ambition — both literally pulled her thousands of miles apart, because Bill did not want to leave Arkansas, and she did not want to leave Washington, D.C."
It sounds like this would be a meaty role for a young actress to sink her teeth into, and reportedly "several top actresses" have already claimed they're interested. For now, no names are being dropped. But tell us below who you'd like to see play young Hillary.
