MUMBAI: Independent film studio Lionsgate has acquired the US distribution rights from QED International to W, a biopic about President George W. Bush directed by Oscar winner Oliver Stone Platoon.

Lionsgate will also distribute W in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. The announcement was made by Lionsgate president of Theatrical Films Tom Ortenberg.

W will star Josh Brolin No Country For Old Men as George W. Bush, Elizabeth Banks Seabiscuit as Laura Bush, James Cromwell The Queen as George Herbert Walker Bush, Ellen Burstyn Requiem For A Dream as Barbara Bush, Thandie Newton Crash as Condoleezza Rice, Jeffrey Wright Syriana as Colin Powell, Scott Glenn as Donald Rumsfeld, and Ioan Gruffud as former UK PM Tony Blair.

W begins production today in Louisiana. Lionsgate is releasing the film on 17 October, 2008. Stone says, "The impact of George W. Bush's presidency will be felt for many years to come. Despite a meteoric, almost illogical rise to power, and a tremendous influence on the world, we don't really know much about Mr. Bush beyond the controlled images we've been allowed to see on TV. This movie's taking a bold stab at looking behind that curtain. I'm real pleased that Lionsgate has the independence necessary to bring this provocative story to an American audience."

The studio adds that whether you love him or hate him, there is no question that George W. Bush is one of the most controversial public figures in recent memory. W will take viewers through Bush's eventful life -- his struggles and triumphs, how he found both his wife and his faith, and of course the critical days leading up to Bush's decision to invade Iraq.