Selma brought Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King back to UK screens in February, with David Oyelowo in the leading role. Now Anthony Mackie will be portraying the historical icon, after signing on to star opposite Bryan Cranston in a new TV movie entitled, All The Way.
Jay Roach is directing the TV movie for HBO, working from playwright Robert Schenkkan’s own adaptation. Cranston, who won a Tony for his performance on stage, is playing 36th US President Lyndon B. Johnson through a turbulent time in his career.
When the assassination of John F. Kennedy rockets Johnson into the Oval Office, he has to push through ground breaking Civil Rights legislation while also battling to win re-election. It was a tough first year for him, capped by success at the polls.
Mackie – who is probably best known for his portrayal as Falcon in Captain America: Winter Soldier – will be MLK, who worked with Johnson to help move the legislation forward. Deadline has reported that the relationship between the two men will be a lot more cordial in All The Way, with the filmed version boosting the prominence of Dr. King.
Mackie is currently at work on Captain America: Civil War and has shot Our Brand Is Crisis. He’ll also be seen in festive comedy X-Mas, which is released in the UK on 11th December.
All The Way is scheduled to start shooting in September.
