Danish screenwriting duo Nikolaj Arcel and Rasmus Heisterberg have reason to celebrate after being given the exciting task of writing the screenplay for the upcoming major film ‘RFK’, which is about the American politician Robert F Kennedy.
Plans for a biopic about one of the 20th century’s most prominent American politicians have been in the mix for years now, and Matt Damon, who will play the lead role, has long expressed a desire to play JFK’s brother on the big screen.
The film will be produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s production company Pearl Street Films, and the Danish duo have good reason to brag after being hired by Damon himself.
“It has been a dream project and a huge challenge to write. We are excited about the final result,” ‘A Royal Affair’ director Arcel – whose big breakthrough came when he adapted ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ – told Ekstra Bladet.
“Matt Damon and his producer Jennifer Todd are some of the sharpest and most down-to-earth business partners we have met over here.”
‘RFK’ is scheduled to go into recording in 2016 and will be distributed by Warner Brothers.
Successful Danish film duo
Arcel and Heisterberg have written screenplays together since Arcel’s directorial debut ‘King’s Game’ in 2004.
Since then, they have written ‘The Truth About Men’, ‘Men Who Hate Women’, the Oscar-nominated ‘A Royal Affair’, which Arcel directed, and later ‘Pheasant Killers’, which broke records at Danish cinemas.
Easy footsteps to follow
While there have been several films and TV series mainly focusing on the life of John F Kennedy, there have been considerably fewer about his younger brother.
Emilio Estevez’s 2006 film ‘Bobby’, which mainly focused on his 1968 assassination, did not fare very well at the box office or with the critics.
Among the actors to previously play Robert Kennedy are Barry Pepper (the sniper in ‘Saving Private Ryan’), Martin Sheen (who has also played JFK) and the great, late Brad Davis (‘Midnight Run’, ‘Chariots of Fire’).
