Movie goers will have to wait a little longer to see Edward Snowden's story on the big screen. The Hollywood Reporter has just announced that the Oliver Stone directed biopic titled Snowden has been pushed back to May 13, 2016.
The movie was originally slated to hit theatres on Christmas Day, which would have put it in prime contention for awards consideration. The delay was announced last month; but we now have a concrete release date.
The film features Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the titular intelligence contractor turned whistleblower. Starring opposite him is Shailene Woodley; who plays Snowden's girlfriend Lindsay Mills. Academy Award Winner Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Timothy Olyphant, and Tom Wilkinson round out the cast.
The report says that the film was pushed back to give Stone ample time to finish the film. The script, which he co-wrote together with Kieran Fitzgerald, is based on two books: Luke Harding's "The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World's Most Wanted Man" and "Time of the Octopus," written by Snowden's Russian lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena.
Snowden was charged in 2013 by the U.S. Department of Justice with two counts of violating the Espionage Act and theft of government property. His passport was revoked by the US government soon after. He was granted temporary asylum by Russia last year and has been living there ever since. His actions and subsequent revelations have made him one of the most vocal spokespersons on the topics of government surveillance and privacy rights.
He recently spoke with the BBC's Panorama news program, where he divulged information on how governments can hack into anyone's cellphone with alarming ease. Snowden also made waves last week when he joined Twitter.
Can you hear me now?
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 29, 2015
