Stone Chases Oscars Early with "W."

After receiving middling reviews for his 2006 melodrama World Trade Center, Oliver Stone surges forth to release a biopic on an even more current issue: the current president, George W. Bush.

The story (as per initial screenplay draft leaked to the press) would seem to follow the life and times of Bush, from his days at Yale, to his governorship, to choking on a pretzel in the Oval Office. Such a formula has proven successful for Stone, scoring Oscar nods and Golden Globes for films such as JFK and Nixon. With a repeat presidential performance, W. could be just what Stone needs to thrust him back into Academy Awards limelight.

Still riding high from his stellar performance in No Country for Old Men, Josh Brolin will try his hand at playing the titular character of Bush, while Elizabeth Banks will play First Lady Laura. Other cast members include Jeffrey Wright as Colin Powell and Rob Corddry as Ari Fleischer.

Filming is currently in progress for W.