Impeachment: American Crime Story full trailer is released detailing Bill Clinton affair
Recreation of Bill Clinton’s hug with Monica Lewinsky is seen for the first time in full trailer for Impeachment: American Crime Story which former White House intern helped to produce
The trailer for season three of American Crime Story, subtitled Impeachment, dropped on ThursdayBooksmart star Beanie Feldstein stars as Monica Lewinsky in the ripped-from-the-headlines series, which follows seasons about the murder trial of O. J. Simpson and the murder of fashion designer Gianni VersaceIn addition to Clive Owen (Bill Clinton) and Edie Falco (Hillary Clinton), Ryan Murphy’s regular collaborator Sarah Paulson stars as Linda Tripp, who exposed Clinton’s affair with LewinskyThe real-life Monica Lewinsky is also listed as a producer on the seasonThe new season is a showcase for extensive makeup work, with Owen and Paulson donning heavy prosthetics to approximate the look of their charactersAmerican Crime Story: Impeachment debuts September 7 on FX
The first full trailer for the hotly-anticipated Impeachment: American Crime Story, that depicts the Bill Clinton impeachment scandal and his sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, was released on Thursday.
It’s the first time the full cast have been seen fully transformed in character, including Clive Owen as Bill Clinton, Edie Falco as Hillary Clinton, Billy Eichner as Matt Drudge, and Cobie Smulders as Ann Coulter.
One excerpt shows the re-enactment of an infamous hug between Lewinsky and Clinton at a White House staff rally after his re-election in 1996. The footage of the seemingly innocuous clinch with an intern would reappear two years later as the scandal about their affair grew.
In another scene, Owen, 56, appears to have donned prosthetics for his dramatic transformation as President Clinton, and is heard repeating the iconic line: ‘I did not have sexual relations with that woman.’
At one point, The Sopranos star Falco, 58, is seen in an emotional fit of rage, hurling an object at her husband.
One excerpt shows the re-enactment of an infamous hug between Lewinsky and Clinton at a White House staff rally after his re-election in 1996. The footage of the seemingly innocuous clinch with an intern would reappear two years later as the scandal about their affair grew
Iconic: British actor Clive Owen (left) recreates the infamous moment Bill Clinton (right) addressed the nation claiming he did not have sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky in first full trailer for Impeachment: American Crime Story. Owen’s costume fit Clinton down to his red tie, though he was covered with prostheses to adopt the embattled president’s distinctive nose and face
As previously seen in the teaser, Beanie Feldstein plays Lewinsky, with Sarah Paulson as her confidante Linda Tripp, who famously exposed the affair.
Feldstein’s Lewinsky is introduced in the trailer as a voiceover is heard explaining to a young group of White House interns the importance of their roles.
‘As you no doubt heard, you get to work in the West Wing as of this morning. You’re going to be working right beside the people who run the world. Please, be professional,’ the voice says.
Tense viewing: Edie Falco’s Hillary Clinton rages at Clive Owen as Bill Clinton over the Lewinsky affair
Big role: As previously seen in the teaser, Beanie Feldstein plays Lewinsky
Friend or foe? Sarah Paulson plays a sinister looking and sounds Linda Tripp, who exposed the affair. The role required extensive makeup and prosthetic effects for her face, and she also wore padding under her costume
Paulson as Tripp is then heard talking about the affair, saying dramatically: ‘There’s a woman I’m very close to… in the midst of an affair, with the President of the United States.
‘How do I know it’s true?’ a man is heard asking Paulson as Tripp. She is then warned ‘you will lose her as a friend’ referring to Tripp’s relationship with Lewinsky.
But a crazed-looking Paulson is seen saying, ‘I have made my peace with that.’
Family affair: The Sopranos star Edie is seen for the first time in character with a young actress playing her daughter Chelsea Clinton
Prosthetics: Clive Owen transforms into Bill Clinton in the show with the help of makeup
An affair to remember: Beanie is seen in another dramatic moment from the FX show
Subtle transformation: Unlike her costars, Beanie Feldstein did wear noticeable prosthetics to play Monica Lewinsky. She achieved the former interns recognizable look with a wig and her business clothing
All-star cast: Cobie Smulders is seen as Ann Coulter in the first full trailer
Dramatic transformation: Another close-up shot of Owen as Clinton is seen in the trailer
‘It all has to come out,’ Paulson says, as she lays out her taped evidence of conversations with Lewinsky.
The drama then unfolds as Edie Falco is seen throwing things around the Oval Office as she plays Hillary reacting in fury to news of the affair.
Several historic moments are recreated for the series including when daughter Chelsea Clinton held the hands of both parents Bill and Hillary at the height of the controversy.
A previous clip from the show released yesterday featured an exchange of dialogue between the pair, as Feldstein’s Lewinsky is heard saying, ‘The president kissed me,’ as Paulson responds, ‘Tell me everything.’
Going: Falco as Hillary Clinton is seen flying into a fit of rage at Owen as Bill Clinton
Going: The Nurse Jackie star throws something aiming for Owen in the clip
Gone: Owen is seen ducking as he narrowly misses an object thrown at him by Falco
The infamous scandal saw the then US-President Bill Clinton accused of having a sexual relationship with a White House intern.
Lewinsky stated that she had nine sexual encounters in the Oval Office with Clinton between November 1995 and March 1997.
These involved fellatio and other sexual acts, but not sexual intercourse, according to her testimony.
Creepy: Paulson appears to be playing the character of Linda Tripp for scares in the show
Damning evidence: Tapes of recorded conversations between Trip and Lewinsky are shown
Putting her name on it: The trailer starts with a fresh-faced Beanie as Monica grabbing a Starbucks before heading to work at the White House
Reporting for duty: Billy Eichner is seen as Matt Drudge in the clip. He wore the Drudge Report founder’s standard straw hat, but also appeared to go prosthesis-free
Tripp – who became a close confidante to Lewinsky – worked in the Pentagon during the Clinton administration.
The blue dress line in the dialogue refers to Tripp convincing Lewinsky to save the gifts that Clinton had given her during their relationship, and to not dry clean a blue dress that was said to be stained with Clinton’s semen.
Clinton famously denied under oath that he ever had ‘a sexual affair’, ‘sexual relations’, or ‘a sexual relationship’ with Lewinsky.
Classic scenes: The show recreated the moment daughter Chelsea Clinton linked her parents arms at the height of the scandal
The original: Hillary, Chelsea, and Bill with their dog Buddy in 1999 amid the scandal
He stated, ‘I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky’ on a nationally televised White House news conference, after news of the affair broke in January 1998.
It is not yet clear who has directed the project, which started production in October last year, though it comes from creator Ryan Murphy.
The drama is based on Jeffrey Toobin’s book A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President, that was released in 1999.
Unfolding: Tom Hanks’ son Colin Hanks also stars in the drama (pictured, middle) though it is unclear who he is playing, or if it is a fictitious character
Fall out: Linda Tripp (Paulson) is seen watching President Bill Clinton deny the affair on TV
Bombshell: Owen is seen amid the unfolding drama of the shocking affair
‘My life is ruined’: Beanie is seen in another emotional scene
Ann Coulter, who detailed the scandal in her book High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Case Against Bill Clinton, is also a presence in the narrative.
Lewinsky herself served as a hands-on producer for the series, and has since inked a production deal with 20th TV after impressing bosses with her work.
Impeachment: American Crime Story premieres Sep. 7 on FX.