Deadline reports that a biopic chronicling the Obama’s early days is on the way from Homegrown Pictures. Taking its influence from indie romances as opposed to stern, political thinkpieces, Southside With You will follow the couple during their first date. Aw.
According to this initial report, the film is slated to be “a drama in the vein of Before Sunrise, chronicles the summer 1989 afternoon when the future President of the United States of America wooed his future First Lady on an epic first date across Chicago’s South Side.”
Apparently, the future president took quite a liking to his new boss at the Chicago law firm he’d recently joined. After several attempts, he finally plucked up the courage to ask her out on a date. And so began their courtship, with a glorious afternoon trotting around Chicago, rounded up with a screening of Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing. While the idea of an Obamapic might seem indulgent, self-serving, and blatantly manipulative, the premise for a film is actually intriguing. Before Sunrise meets Do The Right Thing perhaps?
Regardless, the wheels are firmly in motion to get production started. On board to direct from his own script is Richard Tanne (Worst Friends, The Roman), and he’ll be joined by producers Stephanie Allain and Tracey Bing. Having already secured Get On Up star Tika Sumpter for the role of Michelle (who developed the script and will executive produce alongside Tanne), the quest now begins to find the perfect actor for the role of young Barack. Could this lead to a plethora of casting shortlists hitting the web? It’s unlikely. He might be the President Of The United States, but Obama’s got nothing on Doctor Strange.
Principal photography on Southside With You is set to begin in Chicago next July,
