Stone plans "fair, true" movie about Pres. Bush

He's made movies about former presidents John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon, now Oliver Stone is hot to do a movie about President George W. Bush that he promises will not be a hatchet job.

Stone is in talks with Josh Brolin, who is starring in "No Country For Old Men," to play the title role in Bush, Daily Variety reported. He is shopping the script to financiers and hopes to start production by April, with a release date in time for the election in November, or the inauguration of Bush's successor in January.

Stone told Daily Variety he planned to make "a fair, true portrait" of Bush, focusing on such areas as his relationship with his father, President George Bush, his wild youth, and his conversion to Christianity.

"It will contain surprises for Bush supporters and his detractors," said Stone.

He said Brolin was better looking than Bush, "but has the same drive and charisma that Americans identify with Bush, who has some of that old-time movie-star swagger."

A White House spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. Bush has acknowledged he was a heavy drinker in his younger days, but has long been sober.

Stone, who has had his battles with drink and drugs, earned three Oscar nominations for his 1991 conspiracy film JFK. In 1996, he also received a script nomination for Nixon, which starred Anthony Hopkins. He won best directing Oscars for the Vietnam sagas "Platoon" and "Born on the Fourth of July."

(Agencies)