Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton & Jacki Weaver Cast In JFK Film PARKLAND; Playtone Pictures’ Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman Producing

Oscar nominated Paul Giamatti (CINDERELLA MAN), Oscar winner Billy Bob Thornton (SLING BLADE) and Oscar nominee Jacki Weaver (ANIMAL KINGDOM) have signed on to the John F. Kennedy feature film PARKLAND. Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman are producing in association with Exclusive Media, who will also be financing, It was announced today by Exclusive Media Co-Chairmen Nigel Sinclair and Guy East.

As part of the production deal, Exclusive Media has optioned the rights to the book which provides the source material for the film – the epic Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, by renowned author and former prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi. The work was published in 2007 by W.W. Norton & Company and won the 2008 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime. Bugliosi, a three time Edgar Award winner, also wrote the number one New York Times bestsellers; “Helter Skelter,” “And The Sea Will Tell” and “Outrage.”

The adapted screenplay is written by Peter Landesman, who will also direct PARKLAND marking his directorial debut. PARKLAND recounts the dramatic true story of the chaotic events that occurred at Parkland Hospital in Dallas on the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. The film, to be shot in Austin, Texas is destined for a 2013 US theatrical release around the 50th anniversary of the assassination.

“Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman are two exceptional producers with great taste so we are delighted to be collaborating with them on this fascinating film about such a significant chapter in American history.” said Nigel Sinclair and Guy East. “Paul, Billy Bob and Jacki are perfectly cast to bring Vincent’s book to life. It’s the definitive account of the untold events that took place in Parkland Hospital on that infamous day – it’s a unique and compelling story and Peter’s adaptation is remarkable.”

Matt Jackson, Exclusive Media’s Head of US Production, will oversee the production on behalf of the company. Exclusive Media will handle the worldwide distribution rights to the film that will be introduced to buyers at the upcoming American Film Market by Alex Walton, Exclusive Media’s President of International Sales and Distribution.

Dan Stutz, Executive Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs negotiated the book rights deal on behalf of Exclusive Media with Vincent Bugliosi’s literary manager, Peter Miller, President & CEO of Global Lion Intellectual Property Management.

Actor Paul Giamatti is best known for his Spirit Award winning role in SIDEWAYS, Golden Globe performances in BARNEY’S VERSION and JOHN ADAMS as well as CINDERELLA MAN which earned him an Oscar nomination. He starred in other critically acclaimed films such as WIN WIN, THE ILLUSIONIST, COLD SOULS and Exclusive Media’s THE IDES OF MARCH. He’s currently shooting SAVING MR BANKS for Disney opposite Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson.

Billy Bob Thornton is the actor, screenwriter, director and musician who wrote, starred in and directed the independent film SLING BLADE, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Thornton gained recognition for his acting in films including ONE FALSE MOVE and TOMBSTONE and received critical acclaim for his performances in A SIMPLE PLAN, THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE, MONSTER’S BALL, BANDITS and BAD SANTA. He recently stepped behind the camera once again to direct and star in the ensemble drama JAYNE MANSFIELD’S CAR, an original script co-written by Thornton and longtime collaborator Tom Epperson and starring Robert Duvall, John Hurt, Kevin Bacon and Robert Patrick.

Jacqueline “Jacki” Weaver is the Australian theatre, film, and television actress nominated for the 2011 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in ANIMAL KINGDOM. She can next be seen alongside Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence in The Weinstein Company’s highly anticipated SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK directed by David O. Russell in theaters on November 21st.

Peter Landesman is an award-winning journalist and novelist who wrote the New York Times article “The Girls Next Door,” the basis for the Kevin Kline starrer TRADE, which he also executive produced. He has a number of scripts in active development including the former FBI agent Mark Felt aka “Deep Throat,” story set up at Playtone and Universal Pictures and THE MISSION for Warner Bros. and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Landesman also wrote an adaptation of The Galton Case, the 8th book in the mystery series by Ross MacDonald, for Warner Bros. and Silver Pictures.

Giamatti is repped by UTA and managed by Perri Kipper, Thornton by Brad Slater at WME and Weaver by ICM’s Hildy Gottlieb and Elevate Entertainment’s Alex Cole.