Christian Bale is under consideration to portray Dick Cheney in a yet untitled biopic of the former vice president, reported Variety on Wednesday.

Steve Carell and Amy Adams are also reportedly in talks to join the film.

The film is written by Adam McKay, who is also slated for its direction and joint production with Brad Pitt, Will Ferrell, and Jeremy Kleiner. It is scheduled to begin production in the spring and for release in late 2017.

McKay reportedly views Cheney as “the single most powerful political figure in modern American history,” according to Deadline:

“I’ve always found Cheney fascinating. Questions of what drove him, what his beliefs were; but once we started digging I was astounded at how much he had shaped modern America’s place in the world and how shocking the methods were by which he gained his power.”

McKay claims to have spent “countless hours” researching Cheney and his political ascendance.

Last November, The Hollywood Reporter seemed to suggest that the upcoming film would be critical of Cheney, describing the pending biopic as “[doing] for White House politics was ‘The Big Short’ did for Wall Street greed.”

In accepting the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in February, McKay deployed left-wing rhetoric in casting politicians as beholden to wealthy elites: “Most of all, if you don’t want big money to control government, don’t vote for candidates that take money from big banks, oil or weirdo billionaires: Stop!”

Subsequently elaborating on his perspective that American governance is purchased by wealthy elites, McKay added:

“Big money is taking over our government, and until right and left goes, no more big money. It has to be like a scarlet letter on these candidates. So I really honestly did not mean either side, but like Google it. Just Google it. You can see what the candidates have been paid, and when you elect people that get money from banks and oil and weirdo billionaires, that’s who they vote for.”

McKay has previously worked with both Bale and Carell on “The Big Short,” which he wrote, produced, and directed. The Big Short received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director; winning Best Adapted Screenplay.

SANTA MONICA, CA – JANUARY 17: Actor Christian Bale (L) and writer/director Adam McKay attend the 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 17, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

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