Retired Sen. Chris Dodd is in negotiations to become the new president of the Motion Picture Association of America,
Politico reports. Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat who was a senator from 1981 to 2011, will succeed interim CEO and President Bob Pisano, according to an unnamed industry official.
"It's not a done deal, but he's the only one in negotiations," the official confirmed. The deal is expected to be finalized in several weeks.
Another former senator, Democrat Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, and former GOP Congressman Tom Davis of Virginia, had been considered for the high-profile post.
During Dodd's 2008 presidential bid, his show business supporters included Universal Studios President Ron Meyer and singer-songwriter Paul Simon.
The association is the lobbying arm of the film business and Hollywood studios. It also administers the industry's movie ratings system.
Jack Valenti, who was a special assistant to President Lyndon Johnson, established the voluntary ratings guidelines during his 38-year tenure.