BOSTON (AP) — A new feature film is in the works about the tragedy on a small Massachusetts island nearly a half-century ago that rocked the Kennedy political dynasty.
Australian-born “Zero Dark Thirty” star Jason Clarke has been tapped to portray the late Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy in “Chappaquiddick” — the working title for the film.
Filming is slated to begin around Labor Day with a tentative release in late 2017.
Kennedy was driving a car that went off Dike Bridge on Chappaquiddick in July 1969. His passenger, 28-year-old Mary Jo Kopechne, was trapped in the car and died.
Kennedy, who died in 2009, described his failure to report the incident to police for nine hours as “indefensible.” He pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and was given a two-month suspended sentence.
