National Geographic has its second original scripted project already in the works after the success of its first, “Killing Lincoln”, which became the most watched program in the channel’s history. “Killing Kennedy” and “Killing Lincoln” are both based on books by Bill O’Reilly and produced by Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions. “Killing Kennedy” will follow John F. Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald.
The film, which is set to premiere later this year, will finally give West Wing former star Rob Lowe a chance at the Oval Office. Ginnifer Goodwin will play Jacqueline Kennedy while Michelle Trachtenberg will play the Russian speaking wife of Lee Harvey Oswald.
Nelson McCormick, another West Wing alumnus, will direct the film written by Kelly Masterson (“Before the Devil Know You’re Dead”). The story will begin in 1959 following both Kennedy and Oswald until the fateful day on November 22, 1963 in Dallas.
The film will be released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Kennedy’s assassination. It is a part of National Geographic’s new work in “factual drama,” which the network is calling a hybrid between documentary and drama that gives the value of a high production product while not compromising the historical integrity. The channel intends to team up with O’Reilly and Scott Free Productions again with a film version of O’Reilly’s book Killing Jesus.