‘Scandal’ Star Kerry Washington Set to Play Anita Hill in HBO's Biopic Feature Confirmation
Kerry Washington, 38, best known for her role as Olivia Pope in ABC's Scandal drama series, has signed on to play Anita Hill and executive produce HBO's upcoming made-for-TV movie, titled Confirmation, which will focus on the events surrounding and transpiring during the 1991 Supreme Court nomination hearings for the appointment of Clarence Thomas as Associate Justice.
Thomas, then a federal Circuit Judge, was nominated by then President George H.W. Bush to succeed retiring Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall on the Supreme Court. Toward the end of the confirmation hearings, an FBI interview with Hill was leaked. An attorney, she had worked for Thomas first at the Department of Education and then at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. After the leak, Hill was called to testify at Thomas's confirmation hearings. There under oath, she testified that Thomas had subjected her to comments of a sexual nature, which she felt constituted sexual harassment or at least behavior that is unbecoming for one who will be a member of the Supreme Court. She was the only person to testify at the Senate hearings that Thomas had made unsolicited sexual advances. Ultimately, Thomas was confirmed by a 52-48 vote by the Senate on October 15, 1991. Succeeding Marshall, he became the second African-American to sit on the Highest Court of the land.
The script for Confirmation TV movie will be written by Oscar nominee Susannah Grant who will join Washington in executive producing the project, with Groundswell Productions and ABC Signature Studios producing. Groundswell CEO Michael London and production president Janice Williams are also on board as executive producers. Rick Famuyiwa is reportedly in talks with studio bosses to direct Confirmation. Aside from Washington, no other cast member has been confirmed.
Washington will be back on the small-screen in tonight's episode 15 of Scandal, titled "The Testimony of Diego Muñoz." Directed by Allison Liddi-Brown from a script by Mark Fish, the studio synopsis says that David Rosen (Joshua Malina) will be seen caught off guard when a surprise visitor reveals insider information about 'B613' that could take down the White House and destroy Pope & Associates.