Treat Williams and Bill Irwin are joining the cast of Confirmation on HBO.
This TV movie is about about the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas. Williams will portray Senator Ted Kennedy. His character was one of Thomas’ biggest critics during the hearings. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he famously pressed Thomas about his unwillingness to express an opinion about Roe v. Wade. Irwin will play John Danforth. His character used his leverage in Washington D.C. to help boost the confirmation of Thomas. Thomas had worked for Danforth for many years during his terms as Attorney General of Missouri and Senator.
This movie will follow the proceedings of the hearings and detail the 1991 Supreme Court case. Anita Hill testified in this case and presented the country with questions surrounding sexual harassment. This case altered public opinion on victims’ rights and modern-day race relations.
Kerry Washington (Scandal) stars in the new TV movie as Hill. Wendell Pierce (Treme) will portray Thomas. The cast also includes many other well known actors. Modern Family‘s Eric Stonestreet, Jennifer Hudson, Jeffrey Wright, Alison Wright and Greg Kinnear will appear in the movie. Kinnear will play Vice President Joe Biden.
Susannah Grant, Academy Award-nominee, will write the script and executive produce. Groundswell CEO Michael London (ABC’s upcoming soap The Astronaut Wives Club) and Janice Williams, production president, will executive produce alongside Grant and Washington. Dope‘s Rick Famuyiwa will be directing the TV movie. Production is said to begin early this summer.
Williams credits include Everwood and Chicago Fire. Currently he can be seen on American Odyssey. He is represented by APA and Lasher Group. Irwin’s credits include Interstellar, Law & Order: SVU and CSI. He is represented by Innovative Artists and Viking Entertainment.