Walking Dead's Xander Berkeley & C. Thomas Howell star in Reagan, releasing in August

Walking Dead alums Xander Berkeley and C. Thomas Howell star in the upcoming movie Reagan, which chronicles the life of President Ronald Reagan.

The film is led by Dennis Quaid in the titular role, with Tommy Ragen as a young Reagan and David Henrie as the former president as a teen. Penelope Ann Miller portrays Reagan's wife Nancy.

Directed by Sean McNamara, well known for his movies Soul Surfer and The Miracle Season, the movie is based on Paul Kengor's books, God and Ronald Reagan: A Spiritual Life andThe Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism. Howard Klausner (Space Cowboys) and Jonas McCord (The Body) wrote the movie using Kengor's book as inspriation, the author has stated he was pleased that the script "develop in a manner that is faithful to my books and ultimately to history,”

The story begins in 1981 during the assassination attempt on Reagan and is told through flashbacks and flash-forwards via the voice of Viktor Petrovich (Jon Voight), a KGB agent who becomes linked to Reagan beginning in his days as a Hollywood actor. The movie gives a unique perspective on the actor turned politician's life. Petrovich is said to be based on several KGB agents and Soviet analysts tasked with keeping tabs on Reagan for years.

Reagan will be released in theaters on August 30. Check out the recently released trailer below.

Reagan cast

Berkeley portrays George Shultz, former US Secretary of State who was appointed by Reagan. He is one of two people (the second is Elliot Richardson) to serve in four US Cabinet positions within the US Government. He was instrumental during Reagan's administration shaping foreign policy and aiding the negotiation to end the Cold War peacefully.

Howell portrays Reagan's secretary of Defense, Caspar WeinBerger, who held positions under three Republican presidents. He would later be tied to the Iran-Contra affair.

Many high-profile people are portrayed in the film, including Frank Sinatra, played by Creed frontman Scott Stapp and Lauden Baker, in an uncredited role as John Hinckley Jr., the man who attempted to assassinate Reagan in 1981. Skep Schwink portrays former President Jimmy Carter, Lesley-Anne Down plays Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and Aleksander Krupa as Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union.

Additional cast for Reagan:

Nick Searcy as James Baker
Kevin Dillon as Jack L. Warner
Mena Suvari as Jane Wyman
Trevor Donovan as John Barletta
Hideo Kimura as Yasuhiro Nakasone
Robert Davi as Leonid Brezhnev
Moriah Peters as Loyce Whiteman
Amanda Righetti as Nelle Reagan
Justin Chatwin as Jack Reagan
Ryan Whitney as Margaret "Mugs" Cleaver
Elya Baskin as B.E. Kertchman
Chris Massoglia as Pat Boone
Mark Moses as William P. Clark Jr.
Dan Lauria as Tip O'Neill
Darci Lynne as a damsel in distress
Kevin Sorbo as Ben Cleaver

Xander Berkeley - upcoming roles

Berkeley joins his wife, Sarah Clarke, and fellow Walking Dead actor Steven Ogg in The Ghost Trap,
an indie film directed by James Khanlarian. The movie also stars Zak Steiner, Greer Grammer, Sarah Catherine Hook, Taylor Takahashi, and Billy Wirth. The drama is currently circulating at festivals.

C. Thomas Howell - upcoming roles

Howell most recently starred in a bull riding drama, Ride, with Annabeth Gish, Forrie J. Smith, and Jake Allyn, who also wrote and directed the film. He has also been cast with Michelle Hurd in a romantic western, Where the Wind Blows. Howell is also a musician; you can check out his work via his website, purchase tickets to his shows, and more.