Obamas’ first date inspires movie ‘Southside With You’
Before there was a first lady, there had to be a first date.
For President Barack Obama and wife Michelle, that fateful day came in 1989 Chicago, and now a movie based on their courtship is in the works, producer Stephanie Allain has confirmed to The Times.
Deadline Hollywood first reported that the film, titled “Southside With You,” is to chronicle the summer afternoon when Obama, a first-year law student, romanced the young attorney then known as Michelle Robinson. The two went on a trip to the Art Institute, took a walk around the city and caught a screening of “Do the Right Thing,” a new movie by a relatively unknown director named Spike Lee. They would marry three years later.
Actress Tika Sumpter (“Get on Up,” “Ride Along”) is on board to play the future first lady, but an actor has yet to be cast to play the eventual commander in chief.
Sumpter developed the idea for the project with Richard Tanne, who wrote the script and is to direct. Allain, who is also director of the Los Angeles Film Festival, is producing with Tracey Bing.
Shooting is scheduled to take place in Chicago in the summer.
Times staff writer Amy Kaufman contributed to this report.
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