Tom Wilkinson Hovers Over "Selma" As LBJ

Tom Wilkinson is eyed to play President Lyndon B. Johnson in the historical drama "Selma" says  The Wrap.

 The drama follows  Martin Luther King Jr‘s (David Oyelowo) historic voting rights campaign that occurred at the height of the Civil Rights Movement.

 Johnson gave an eloquent speech about voting rights one week after deadly racial violence erupted in Alabama.

 "Middle of Nowhere" helmer  Ava DuVernay will direct the film using a script that she tweaked   with screenwriter Paul Webb.

Oprah Winfrey Brad Pitt Dede Gardner Jeremy Kleiner, Christian Coulson and Cameron McCracken. are producing the project.

At one time Lee Daniels was attached to direct the project a few years ago with Oyelowo, Hugh Jackman, Liam Neeson, Ray Winstone, Robert De Niro and Cedric the Entertainer poised to star.  Funding was never fully secured and that version of movie just fell apart.