A former aide's dramatic story about Sen. John Edwards is heading to the silver screen.

Media reports Thursday confirmed that Andrew Young has sold the rights to his book "The Politician" to famed screenwriter Aaron Sorkin. A story from The Hollywood Reporter said that Sorkin will write, direct and produce the film.

Sorkin is known for writing "A Few Good Men" and "The American President." He also created the critically acclaimed NBC political drama "The West Wing," which followed the inner workings of the White House under a fictional Democratic administration.

There's been no indication of who would be cast to play Edwards or the other characters in the book, though it has been a topic of speculation around the Internet.

Edwards, once a prominent figure in national Democratic politics, had an affair and love child with Rielle Hunter, a videographer who filmed the early days of his 2008 presidential campaign.

Young's book details Edwards' attempts to cover up the affair, which eventually destroyed his political career and marriage.

Young's book hit shelves in February.

Edwards grew up in Robbins and went on to become a successful trial lawyer. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998, defeating Republican incumbent Sen. Lauch Fair-cloth.

In 2000, Edwards was rumored to be on Al Gore's short list of potential vice presidential running mates. Gore ended up selecting Sen. Joe Lieberman, of Connecticut.

Edwards made a strong bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, announcing his campaign in front of a closed textile mill in Robbins where he and his father once worked. After Edwards dropped out, Sen. John Kerry tapped him as his vice presidential running mate.

He launched a second presidential campaign in December 2006 in New Orleans but dropped out in late January 2008 after falling behind Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama in the delegate count.

Edwards endorsed Obama, touching off speculation that Edwards might be tapped as attorney general.

News of the affair with Hunter broke in The National Enquirer in the fall of 2007, with Edwards denying the reports.

The story gained traction in the summer of 2008, and Edwards eventually admitted to the affair that August in an interview with ABC News, but said that he didn't father Hunter's child.

He issued a statement in January of this year admitting that he was the child's father and has largely been out of the public spotlight since.

He and his wife, Elizabeth, have separated.

Contact John Krahnert III by e-mail at jkrahnert@ thepilot.com.