John Edwards book to become movie

The story of John Edwards’ downfall combines the pathos of a Greek tragedy with the tawdry twists of a daytime soap. Is it any surprise, then, that the tale is bound for the big screen?

Ending months of speculation, Aaron Sorkin announced that he will direct a movie based on “The Politician,” the book written by former Edwards aide Andrew Young. While it may be Sorkin’s first time directing a feature film, he is no stranger to telling political tales. He created the television drama “The West Wing” and wrote the screenplay for the film “The American President.”

"This is a first-hand account of an extraordinary story filled with motivations, decisions and consequences that would have lit Shakespeare up," Sorkin said in a widely reported statement. "There's much more to Andrew's book than what has been reported and I'm grateful that he's trusting me with it."

Released in January by Thomas Dunne, “The Politician” recounts the events surrounding Edwards’ 2008 campaign for the presidency. Edward's political career reached its nadir when it was revealed by The National Enquirer that the married presidential candidate not only had an ongoing affair with one of his staffers, Rielle Hunter, but that the relationship had produced a child — a child that Andrew Young said was his in order to save his boss. 

Young and Hunter are locked in a legal dispute over the existence of a sex tape involving her and Edwards.

Edwards has since separated from his wife, Elizabeth. Her 2009 memoir “Resilience,” which, among other topics, chronicles her battle with cancer and her husband’s infidelity, was recently released in paperback.

Rielle Hunter, who is never named in Elizabeth’s book, was previously known for dating novelist Jay McInerny. She was the inspiration for his main character in the 1988 novel “Story of My Life.”

With so many storylines still unresolved it seems there will be plenty of material for a sequel.

--Stephen Lowman