Sean Penn is taking on the White House in a new made-for-television film.

The actor has been cast to play President Andrew Jackson in the joint HBO and Lionsgate miniseries adaptation of "American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House," the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography about the seventh U.S. president by author Jon Meacham.

"American Lion" will begin with Jackson's early life, as an orphan, during the Revolutionary War and will then chronicle his ascension to the presidency in 1828.

The six-hour miniseries is being written by "Narcos" creators Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard, with production on the film beginning in 2016. Penn will also serve as executive producer alongside Miro, Bernard and Facebook's head of market development, Matt Jacobson. Penn recently directed the movie "The Last Face," which stars his on-again, off-again girlfriend Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem.

Penn was a shoo-in for the "American Lion" role, as both he and Jackson have both been seen as controversial figures in the past. Penn is currently trying to clean up his image, by suing "Empire" co-creator Lee Daniels for $10 million after he falsely accused the "Mystic River" actor of hitting women.

Jackson, on the other hand, is remembered for being a slave owner and removing American Indians from their land. While these instances might be true, there's much more to be told about Jackson's life and accomplishments.

In a Jackson biography written back in 1900, historian William Garrott Brown gave a stellar explanation, as to why Americans held Jackson to such a high standard.

He wrote:

He was the man who had his way. He was the American whose simple virtues his countrymen most clearly understood, whose trespasses they most readily forgave; and until Americans are altogether changed, many, like the Democrats of the 'Twenties and 'Thirties, will still "vote for Jackson,"-for the poor boy who fought his way, step by step, to the highest station; for the soldier who always went to meet the enemy at the gate; for the president who never shirked a responsibility...

"American Lion" will be Penn's first political role since he played gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk, on the big screen, in the 2008.

The network notably received 13 Emmy awards for its "John Adams" miniseries, which starred Paul Giamatti in the adaptation of the David McCullough biography.

If done correctly, "American Lion" could be ratings gold for HBO.