Who Will Play Obama on the Big Screen?

Denzel Washington in Inside Man

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Barack Obama

Obvious Choice:
Denzel Washington
Dreamy Denzel Washington is clearly the most obvious actor take on the role of the first African-American president. Washington is the go-to guy for intense, thoughtful roles, from Malcolm X to blockbuster films like Inside Man, American Gangster, and Man on Fire. And although Washington is a few years older than Obama, you can be sure he will definitely be looking a little less fresh-faced after a few months of trying to clean up our current economic snafu.

First Choice:
Daniel Day-Lewis
Yes, we know. He's a British white guy with an earring and a tendency for rather, erm, fashion-forward suits. But if the man can transform himself into a vicious oil magnate with a thirst for milkshakes and a man who learns to only paint with his left freaking foot (in a movie that's been named one of the most inspirational movies ever), he can totally play Obama. End of story.

Second Choices:
Will Smith
He's the hottest property in Hollywood because of Oscar-nominated roles like Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness and Muhammad Ali in Ali and blockbuster save-the-world flicks like I Am Legend, Independence Day, and Men in Black. Plus, his family is freaking adorable.

Don Cheadle
Cheadle's taking everyone else's role in Hollywood (later, Terrence Howard!), why not this one? He's a humanitarian known for films like Hotel Rwanda and Crash, but he's also not above goofing off in the Ocean's movies or trying his hand as Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes in Iron Man 2. Let's not discuss the fact that Rhodes' alter ego is named "War Machine."

Last Resort:
Forest Whitaker
The Texas native was showered with awards for his role as the ultra-batty Idi Amin, but the gentle giant has long been a critical favorite for his roles in films like Platoon, The Crying Game, Bird, and Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai. If Whitaker can play a bloodthirsty dictator, the lover of a transsexual woman, Charlie Parker, and a samurai hitman, you know he suck down some Slim-Fast and play Barack.

Aaron Eckhart in The Dark Night

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Joe Biden

Obvious Choice:
Jack Nicholson
Jack and Joe have three things in common — those big, beautiful choppers, a funky hairline, and their love of talking. We would assume that Nicholson and Biden might dissent on their views of drugs (Biden introduced the RAVE Act: Reducing Americans' Vulnerability to Ecstasy), but otherwise, Nicholson could definitely channel his self-righteous "You can't handle the truth!"-iness into a worthy star turn as the Dem VP.

First Choice:
Sean Penn
Not that Sean Penn would be content in playing second fiddle to any prez, but dye his hair gray, but in some fake teeth and let him go to town! The resultant scenery chewing could result in bloodshed and/or Oscar noms all around.

Second Choices:
Aaron Eckhart
Although he's a few decades younger than Biden, Eckhart's golden boy routine in The Dark Knight had us all rooting for Harvey Dent to save Gotham. His smiley Big Tobacco spinmeister in Thank You for Smoking is great preparation, we're sure, for the daily grin-and-bullshit grind of politics.

Warren Beatty
Beatty's craggy good looks aren't the only thing he has in common with Biden; the longtime liberal activist, who did fundraising for RFK before the senator's assassination, was rumored to be considering taking a run for the presidential gold in 2000. The current and equally outspoken Biden ran for president in 2008 before dropping out and accepting Obama's offer.

Last Resort:
Gary Busey
We'd pay to see this. So would you.

Michelle Obama

Obvious Choice:
Angela Bassett
Whether she's getting her groove back, waiting to exhale, showing us what love has to do with it, or saving lives on the small screen, Angela Bassett is ready to handle anything life as the First Lady throws at her. Plus, her style and physique are spot on.

First Choice:
Alfre Woodard
Woodard is not only a vocal Obama supporter, spending time on the road traveling with the Obama party during his campaign, but this critically acclaimed actress would definitely do justice to the down-to-earth Harvard Law grad.

Thandie Newton in W.

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Second Choices:
Thandie Newton
Newton went toe to toe with notoriously difficult director Oliver Stone in W., where she plays US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in an all-star cast, so surely she's ready to jump party lines and play an even more powerful political figure? Newton, who is biracial, has also broken boundaries as a black British actress working in a variety of both American and British films, from action (RockNRolla), comedy (Run Fat Boy Run), and action (The Chronicles of Riddick).

Sophie Okonedo
The Cambridge grad first garnered notice for her role in Hotel Rwanda with Don Cheadle — she was even nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar. If Cheadle gets the Obama nod then Hollywood would be idiots not to re-team this powerhouse.

Last Resort:
Tyra Banks
This could be the breakout role the model-turn-talk-show-star has been waiting for. She's tall, beautiful, and she danced on a bar in Coyote Ugly. (Hey, if it's experience you wanted then you should have voted McCain.)

Take a look at who'd play the losers on the next page...