14 DAY TRIAL // NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden is getting the Hollywood treatment by having the shocking revelations he made and the following scandal turned into a biopic. And he has the best man for the job handling writing, directing, and producing duties: Oliver Stone.
Though his most recent non-fictional film, “Savages,” did not fare well with critics or fans, Stone remains a force to be reckoned with in cinema, especially when it comes to making biopics, films based on real events.
As a longtime fan of his who has only marginal knowledge of the specifics of the NSA scandal, I can honestly say I’m thrilled at the idea he’s in charge of making this movie happen.
The news is confirmed by The Guardian, whose journalist Luke Harding published the account “The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World’s Most Wanted Man,” on which the film is based. Harding and other journalists from the same media outlet will serve as story and production consultants, while Stone’s longtime collaborator Moritz Borman will produce alongside Stone.
“This is one of the greatest stories of our time,” Stone says. “A real challenge. I'm glad to have the Guardian working with us.”
The publication notes that producers are eyeing a start date for the production by the end of the year, but doesn’t offer an estimative release date. No word yet on casting either. Assuming shooting starts in the first quarter of 2015, we’re looking at a possible release date in early 2016.