Josh Brolin, coming off a heckuva year, may be about to tackle a heckuva part: President George W. Bush.

Variety reports that Oliver Stone plans to make a movie called "Bush," examining the Texan's life and presidency and likely starring Brolin from "No Country for Old Men," "American Gangster" and "In the Valley of Elah." Josh's famous dad, James Brolin, co-starred with Judy Davis in "The Reagans," a CBS project that ended up on Showtime.

The Oscar-winning director told Daily Variety that "Bush" will be similar to "Nixon," but not as dark in tone.

"I'm a dramatist who is interested in people, and I have empathy for Bush as a human being, much the same as I did for Castro, Nixon, Jim Morrison, Jim Garrison and Alexander the Great," Stone told the trade publication.

He made a documentary about Fidel Castro called "Comandante" and generally has had a good eye for casting his leads: Anthony Hopkins as President Nixon, Val Kilmer as Morrison in "The Doors," Kevin Costner as Garrison in "JFK," and Colin Farrell as Alexander. Stone also hired Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena to play two of the last survivors pulled from the 9/11 rubble in "World Trade Center."

When the PG compiled its list of best movies of 1995, "Nixon" finished fourth, behind "Smoke," "Apollo 13" and "The Usual Suspects."

Post-Gazette movie editor Barbara Vancheri can be reached at bvancheri@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1632.