Jay Roach Wants Tom Cruise and Robert Downey Jr. For El Presidente

Posted on Monday, May 14th, 2012 by

If Jay Roach has his way, two of the biggest, busiest movie stars in the world will be starring in a buddy comedy hes directing called El Presidente. Roach, the director of Austin Powers as well as this summers The Campaign, is courting Tom Cruise and Robert Downey Jr. for the film, written by Parks andRecreationwriter Dan Goor, about a Secret Service agent guarding the worst President ever. Read more after the jump.

Vulture broke the news of this story and Jeff Sneider of Variety said hes heard the same thing, though he got nothing but denials from Warner Bros. sources. So, because of that, take this with a grain of salt and realize while this might be in the works, it also might not happen. Also, back in 2010, Cruise was rumored to be attached to the film along with Jack Nicholson but that was ! later de bunked.

Heres how Vulture describes El Presidente:

It follows an overzealous Secret Service agent whose work-life boundary issues get him reassigned to the inglorious task of guardingAmericas worst former president, who is a bumbling sleaze. The job suddenly becomes exciting when a threat is made on the ex-presidents life and they must go on the run.

Downey Jr. would be the President and Cruise would be the Secret Service agent. Also, before anything happens, Warner is reportedly hoping to get someone to take another pass at the script.

After a few years harboring a bad reputation, Cruise has beensteadilygaining his leading man status back with Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, not one but two upcoming sci-fi action films (Oblivion and All You Need Is Kill) as well as a lead role in the musical Rock of Ages and action film One Shot. The only thing missing from this newresurgenceis a comedy and El Presidente seems like it could fit the bill. Plus, as stated above, hes been aware of this project for a while.

Downey Jr. will spend his summer playing Tony Stark again in Shane Blacks Iron Man 3 but weve recently seen him use his star power in the buddy comedy genre, with Due Date and the Sherlock Holmes films. (Granted, the Holmes films are more action than comedy, but theres certainly comedy and buddy elements there too). He has yet to officially line anything up after Iron Man 3 though Paul Thomas AndersonsInherent Viceand a Perry Mason reboot a! re possi bilities.

Do you think this project will come together?


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