Aaron Sorkin has found his leading man in Jeff Daniels. Sort of. Depending on whom you ask.
The "Social Network" screenwriter and former "West Wing" honcho told New Yorker's Vulture column on Thursday that Daniels is all but signed up to star in Sorkin's upcoming HBO pilot, about a cable news program. Asked about rumors that the "Dumb & Dumber" actor would be filling the lead, Sorkin responded as though Daniels were already on set, saying, "Yeah, we're really lucky. He's going to play the lead and he's going to blow the doors off the place."
Struck by Sorkin's candor — particularly since Daniels told the column that it would "be stupid" to offer premature confirmation — Vulture followed up with, "So is this pretty much a sure thing that he'll be on the show?" To which Sorkin replied, "Yeah."
Vulture might be counting its chicks before they're hatched; however, a rep for Daniels tells The Wrap "there is no deal," and while Daniels has a definite interest in the role, the offer is only few days old and any agreement he might come to is still being worked through.
HBO, meanwhile, offered no comment on the negotiations.
