Sarandon, Goodman join Kevorkian biopic
Project loosely based on the book ‘Dying and the Dead’
Hollywood Reporter
July 12, 2009
By Nellie Andreeva
Susan Sarandon and John Goodman are set to co-star opposite Al Pacino
in "You Don’t Know Jack," HBO Films’ biopic of Jack Kevorkian, which
is being directed by Barry Levinson.
Kevorkian, known as Dr. Death, assisted in more than 130
suicides. After willingly sending a videotape of himself euthanizing a
terminally ill man to "60 Minutes," he was convicted in 1999 of
second-degree murder and spent eight years in prison before getting
paroled in 2007.
Loosely based on Neal Nicol and Harry Wylie’s book "Between the Dying
and the Dead: Dr. Jack Kevorkian’s Life and the Battle to Legalize
Euthanasia," the HBO film follows Kevorkian’s (Pacino) rise as he
builds his infamous Mercy Machine and sets out to perform assisted
suicides while waging an epic legal battles defending a patient’s
right to die.
Goodman will play Nicol, a friend and co-worker of Kevorkian since
1961 and a steadfast supporter of the right to die.
Nicol’s medical training as a corpsman and laboratory technician
enabled him to assist Kevorkian on many occasions, while his
laboratory supply company often provided materials for Kevorkian’s
efforts.
Sarandon will play Janet Good, an activist with the Hemlock Society
who becomes one of Jack’s staunchest supporters, working side by side
with him to make humane suicide available to the terminally ill and
suffering. After she is herself diagnosed with terminal cancer, she
avails herself of Kevorkian’s services, choosing her own time to die,
surrounded by her friends and loved ones.
Levinson, who is exec producing the film with Steven L. Jones, Lydia
Dean Pilcher and Glenn Rigberg, will direct from a script by Adam
Mazer.
"Jack" reunites Goodman and Sarandon who co-starred together on the
2008 feature "Speed Racer."
Goodman, an Emmy winner for his guest stint on "Studio 60 on the
Sunset Strip," is repped by Gersh. Oscar winner Sarandon, repped by
ICM, will next be seen in "The Lovely Bones."
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
