Michael Shannon and Kevin Spacey to star in 'Elvis & Nixon'

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Michael Shannon is set to play rock 'n' roll icon Elvis Presley, while Kevin Spacey portrays U.S. President Richard Nixon in the upcoming film Elvis & Nixon, producers announced Wednesday.

"Two men at the height of their powers -- conscious they could not stay on top forever -- both ripped with fear of the inevitable, sharing one famous private moment in the Oval Office," a synopsis said. "Elvis & Nixon recounts the morning of Dec. 21,1970, when the King of Rock 'n' Roll showed up on the White House lawn to request a meeting with the most powerful man in the world -- President Richard Nixon. He had a very urgent request: to be sworn in as an undercover federal agent at large. This intimate moment in the Oval Office between two men at the height of their powers has never been told." The film is to be directed by Liza Johnson based on a screenplay by Cary Elwes, and Hanala and Joey Sagal.

Cassian Elwes and Holly Wiersma are producing, while Byron Wetzel and Prescience's Tim Smith and Paul Brett are executive producing.

Prescience is financing the film, which Bloom is introducing to foreign buyers at the American Film Market. "After the enormous success of The Butler I have a deep affection for films set in the White House, as does the public.To work with Shannon and Spacey on this movie at the height of their careers is a dream come true," producer Cassian Elwes said in a statement.

Shannon recently ended a celebrated run on the HBO mob drama Boardwalk Empire. Spacey can now be seen in Netflix's acclaimed series House of Cards.