Wag the Dog movie is being rebooted as an HBO TV show
Barry Levinson's political satire Wag the Dog starring Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman is being rebooted for a TV series set to air on HBO.
The 1997 movie followed De Niro as a political strategist who hires a Hollywood producer, played by Hoffman, to craft a fictional war to detract from the President's sexual harassment scandal.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Levinson will executive produce the remake – which will be re-formatted as a half-hour scripted comedy – as well as direct the project.
HBO described the upcoming adaptation as "an ode to the classic film but moving the weapons of mass distraction beyond politics and into business, entertainment and, yes, nonprofits".
In a not-so-subtle nod to the current political climate, it added: "In the 21st century with the tools of social media at their hands, nothing is off limits to a small group of operators when it comes to manufacturing reality. Fake news is so yesterday."
Related: Erm, Robert De Niro has been using Snapchat
Robert De Niro is himself said to be on board as an executive producer for the series, and we can't help but think he's going to enjoy this one – after all, his disdain for politics (read: Donald Trump) is no secret.
Appearing in a campaign video before the election, De Niro admitted he'd "like to punch" Trump in the face. "He's so blatantly stupid, he's a punk, he's a dog, he's a pig," he added.
"He's a con, a bullshit artist. He's a mutt who doesn't know what he's talking about, doesn't do his homework, doesn't care. Thinks he's gaming society, doesn't pay his taxes. He's an idiot."
Tell us how you really feel, Rob.
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