Bill Murray visits FDR's home in Hyde Park
Actor Bill Murray, seen here at IFP's 20th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards at Cipriani, Wall Street in Manhattan, visited FDR's old home in upstate New York in preparation for playing the former president. (Nov. 29, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
Academy Award-nominated actor Bill Murray has checked out Franklin D. Roosevelt’s old upstate New York digs as he prepares for a turn as the former president in a film set on the eve of World War II.
The “Caddyshack” and “Ghostbusters” star spent several hours Sunday in Hyde Park, which is the setting for Richard Nelson’s screenplay, “Hyde Park on Hudson.” The film centers on the June 1939 visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to FDR’s Hudson Valley home.
The movie is being directed by Roger Michell, who helmed “Notting Hill.” Laura Linney is cast as FDR’s distant cousin Margaret “Daisy” Suckley, with whom the 32nd president had a close relationship.
Filming starts next month. Release is scheduled for 2012.
