News > Ewan McGregor to Join "Amelia" Cast

Scottish actor Ewan McGregor has accepted the role of Gene Vidal (father of writer/social commentator Gore Vidal) in Mira Nair's production of "Amelia," starring Hilary Swank as the renowned aviatrix Amelia Earhart. Gene Vidal was the co-founder of three airlines, namely the Ludington Line, Transcontinental Air Transport (later TWA), and Northeast Airlines which he founded with his lover Earhart.

From the sound of the cast, this picture is turning into quite the soap opera. Richard Gere is playing publisher George Putnam, husband to Earhart. Virginia Madsen will play Dorothy Binney Putnam, George's ex-wife. And now McGregor is on board as Earhart's lover. It makes you wonder if there's going to be any time for flying. Ronald Bass ("Rain Man," "Snow Falling on Cedars") wrote the screenplay.

McGregor is nearly done shooting "I Love You, Philip Morris" and will begin work on "Angels & Demons" in early June, which leaves him about a week to fit in "Amelia." What can you say? The man is a pro.

(Variety)

-David Morgan