Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Netflix has secured a pricy deal for Aaron Sorkin's THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7, an upcoming film project that stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Alex Sharp, Mark Rylance, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella, and John Carroll Lynch. According to reports, the in-demand film has been sold to the streamer for $56 million.
Originally, Paramount had been named as the film's domestic distributor with plans to release the movie in theaters. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic derailed Paramount's intentions and the film is now bound for the Netflix streaming platform. As a silver lining to the previous setup, it's been said that the new pact with Cross Creek, the film's financier, will see financial commitments being paid to the appropriate parties.
In addition to directing the film, Sorkin also wrote the script which, according to Deadline, "charts how what was intended to be a peaceful protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention turned into a violent clash with police and the National Guard. The organizers of the protest — including Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden, and Bobby Seale — were charged with conspiracy to incite a riot, and the trial that followed was one of the most notorious in American history. The hot-button story is set in the late 60s, but speaks to the divisiveness of our times and how young people can take on power."
Though the film was expected to see a domestic release at the end of September, a new premiere has yet to be established. That said, it's possible that THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 will march onto Netflix in November, just in time for this year's heated election in the United States of America.
While I can't say that I know much about the events of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, I'm certainly willing to give the movie a go with talents like Abdul-Mateen II, Redmayne, Cohen, Strong, Keaton, and Gordon-Levitt on board. How about you? Will you be checking out Sorkin's latest directorial effort when it arrives on Netflix, presumably toward the end of this year? Let us know in the comments section below.
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