Emilia Clarke has been cast as Jean Kerr, the wife of infamous US senator Joseph ‘McCarthy’ in the upcoming biopic film, ‘McCarthy’. The film follows the story of former marine turned US senator, ‘McCarthy’, during his rise to prominence. ‘McCarthy’ became famous for his spearheading the so-called "red scare" in the 1950s and televising dozens of inquisitions of celebrities and stars who were accused of selling secrets to the USSR during the Cold War. "McCarthyism," as it became known, was a polarizing time in US history; with everyone from Charlie Chaplin to Marilyn Monroe forced to defend themselves against McCarthy’s smear tactics. The mass witchhunt even inspired author Arthur Clarke to pen the allegorical novel, The Crucible.
Digital Spy reports that Emilia Clarke will star as McCarthy’s wife, Jean Kerr, who was married to the congressman until his death in 1957. Clarke is the latest actor announced for the movie, which is set to start production in 2022. The Game Of Thrones star has appeared on the big screen in recent years in Terminator Genisys and ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’, but now seems to be moving towards a more dramatic role.
Clarke will star opposite Man Of Steel’s Michael Shannon, who plays the titular politician, and joins co-stars Dane DeHaan and Scoot McNairy in a cast that’s beginning to stack up heavyweight talent. ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’ and ‘The Courier writer’, Tom O’Connor, is penning the screenplay, with Václav Marhoul directing and Star Wars producer Rick McCallum listed as an executive producer. McCarthy has yet to start filming, but audiences can expect to hear more in the coming months as pre-production moves ahead.
Variety
