John Edwards Saga to Become Movie

Ex-aide Andrew Young reaches movie deal for tell-all memoir "The Politician."

ByABC News
July 16, 2010, 11:03 AM

July 16, 2010— -- John Edwards' story had the makings of a movie from the start: a presidential candidate involved in an affair, a sex scandal, and an elaborate cover-up. Now, it could be coming to a theater near you. Andrew Young's tell-all book, "The Politician," will be made into a movie, Edwards' ex-aide confirms.

Young said that Aaron Sorkin, the writer and producer known for the TV series "The West Wing," has acquired the screen rights to the memoir. Sorkin will make his directorial debut with the adaptation, Young said.

"This is a first-hand account of an extraordinary story filled with motivations, decisions and consequences that would have lit Shakespeare up," Sorkin said in a statement. "There's much more to Andrew's book than what has been reported, and I'm grateful that he's trusting me with it."

In the book, Young chronicles his time with Edwards, including his efforts to hide the secret that would eventually shock the American public.

Edwards concocted an elaborate scheme to keep his affair, sex scandal and pregnant mistress Rielle Hunter a secret, according to Young who helped smuggle the woman in and out of a series of luxurious hideaways. Young said that Edwards called on wealthy benefactors and their sizable contributions to fund Rielle Hunter's lavish life on the lam.

The once-loyal aide falsely claimed he was the father of Hunter's and Edwards' love child to protect the candidate, who was just two weeks away from the Iowa Caucuses.

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