Casting Call: "Hotel Tehran" Seeks Jimmy Carter and Ayatollah Khomeini Lookalikes for Filming in the South

If you resemble Jimmy Carter or Ayatollah Khomeini, you could be cast in a new political thriller filming in the South.

"Hotel Tehran," an action-packed movie featuring Liam Neeson and Zachary Levi, is looking for actors who closely resemble the former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and the Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini as they appeared in the late 1970s. Goleman Casting announced that these scenes will be filmed on September 6 in Jackson, Mississippi.

A recent Facebook post from Goleman Casting stated that they are looking for "photo doubles" for the movie. In addition to Carter and Khomeini lookalikes, the production team is also seeking someone who resembles Stansfield Turner, the former Navy admiral and CIA director during the Carter administration (1977-1981).

In filmmaking, "photo doubles" are used when a primary actor is in a scene but not the focus, essentially serving as a background actor. According to Central Casting, photo doubles must resemble the principal actor from a distance, allowing filming to continue while the main actor prepares for other scenes.

Goleman Casting, based in Mobile, Alabama, has a history of casting extras and background actors for films shot in the state, including "The Rivals of Amziah King," "About My Father," and "A Nashville Legacy."

The company has also posted a casting call for male and female actors to portray soldiers and officers in military scenes for "Hotel Tehran." Filming for these scenes is scheduled from September 12 to October 2 in Jackson.

Zachary Levi, known for his roles in the “Shazam!” movies and the TV series “Chuck,” will play Tucker, a character leading a group of disgraced ex-CIA operatives on a dangerous mission in Tehran. Liam Neeson's role has not yet been disclosed, and the rest of the cast remains unknown.

Liam Neeson, an Oscar-nominated actor famous for "Schindler’s List," "Michael Collins," "Les Misérables," and "Gangs of New York," became a recognized action star after his role in 2008's "Taken." He has since appeared in many action films like "The A-Team," "Cold Pursuit," and "A Walk Among the Tombstones."

Production of "Hotel Tehran" was announced earlier this year by Rocket Science, Oakhurst Entertainment, Astral Future, and Dreamtime Films.

The film is directed by Guy Moshe, known for directing "Bunraku" (2010) and "LX 2048" (2020). The script for "Hotel Tehran" was co-written by Moshe and Mark Bacci, based on an original idea by Bazzel Baz, a former CIA Intelligence Special Operations Group officer.