Hugh Jackman faces scandal in the first trailer for “The Front Runner,” a fact-based political thriller directed by Jason Reitman, where stars as former 1988 Democratic presidential hopeful Gary Hart.
Based on the book “All the Truth Is Out” by political journalist Matt Bai, the film chronicles the Colorado senator’s rise — where he was at one point considered the front-runner to win the Democratic nominee in the 1988 presidential election — and fall that was due to his extramarital affair with Donna Rice, which is shown at the end of the trailer, which was ultimately the end of his campaign.
“Having grown up wandering around the Columbia lot as a kid, it is a particular thrill to bring ‘The Front Runner’ back home to the first studio I can remember,” Reitman said in a statement. “I cannot wait for movie-goers to see Hugh’s humanist transformation into one of the more complicated political figures of our time.”
Vera Farmiga and J.K. Simmons will also star in the film as Hart’s wife, Lee Hart, and Hart’s campaign adviser Bill Dixon. Sara Paxton will take on the role of Rice.
Bai and Reitman co-wrote the film with former Hillary Clinton press secretary Jay Carson. Reitman and Helen Estabrook produced the film through their Right of Way Films banner in partnership with BRON Studios’ Aaron Gilbert, who are backed by Creative Wealth Media.
The film starts its multi-tiered rollout on Nov. 7.