Stars of Stone’s ‘W’ Arrested in Bar Fight
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Actors Josh Brolin and Jeffrey Wright, along with members of a crew filming an Oliver Stone movie, were arrested during a bar fight Saturday morning, police said.
Shreveport, La., Police Sergeant Willie Lewis said Mr. Brolin, Mr. Wright, and five others were arrested just after 2 a.m. at a club called the Stray Cat.
A call to deal with a rowdy patron drew interference from other patrons, Mr. Lewis said.
The Times of Shreveport reported that Mr. Brolin was booked and posted $334 cash bond to be released. Police could not say Saturday night whether he or the others had been released. The paper said they are part of the crew on an Oliver Stone film, “W,” about President George W. Bush.
A call to Mr. Brolin’s publicist was not immediately returned Saturday night.
“W” began filming in May in Shreveport. Mr. Brolin plays President Bush and Mr. Wright plays former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
The cast also includes Elizabeth Banks as first lady Laura Bush, Ellen Burstyn and James Cromwell as the elder Bushes and Thandie Newton as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
“W” is Mr. Stone’s third presidential film, following “Nixon” and “JFK.” He also directed the Vietnam sagas “Born on the Fourth of July” and “Platoon,” which won four Oscars including best picture and director.
The Academy Award-winning director only began shopping his script for financing in January, but has quickly captured the interest of investors and Hollywood.
Mr. Stone has said the film, which will focus on the life and presidency of Mr. Bush, won’t be an anti-Bush polemic, but, as he told Daily Variety, “a fair, true portrait of the man. How did Bush go from being an alcoholic bum to the most powerful figure in the world?”