Oliver Stone’s ‘Snowden’ Set for Christmas Release in U.S.

February 21, 2015

VARIETY – Open Road Films has set a Christmas release in the U.S. for Snowden with Rhys Ifans and Joely Richardson joining the cast.

Production launched Friday in Munich. Shooting will take place until mid-May.

As previously announced, Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars in the title role as whistleblower Edward Snowden, alongside Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Tom Wilkinson and Timothy Olyphant.

Pathé Films, which developed the project with Stone’s longtime producing partner Moritz Borman, has retained distribution rights for France and Benelux. Wild Bunch is handling international sales in all other territories while Open Road has U.S. rights.

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Department of Justice with two counts of violating the Espionage Act and theft of government property, and his passport was revoked a week later by the U.S. Department of State. He was granted temporary asylum by Russia last year.

Borman is producing with Eric Kopeloff and Philip Schulz-Deyle. Stone is directing from a script he co-wrote with Kieran Fitzgerald, based on Luke Harding’s The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World’s Most Wanted Man and Time of the Octopus, by Snowden’s Russian lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena.

Pathe will open Snowden in France on Dec. 30. Universum will launch it in Germany on Jan. 8.

6 Comments on “Oliver Stone’s ‘Snowden’ Set for Christmas Release in U.S.”

  1. It will be interesting to see Shailene in her first role as an adult. It’s probably not that big a part given the mechanics of her upcoming schedule (press tour for Insurgent taking up most of March and Allegiant starting production in April) but I’m glad she’s been able to make the transition.

  2. Hi shailene I’m such a big fan of all your films especially the fault in our stars my life revolves around you your my everything I would love an autograph ??

  3. Hello Ms. Woodley,

    I saw a comment you made regarding Snowden and how you thought of him as a hero. Well, I’m truly disappointed by your remarks as they are ill-informed and without merit. Snowden did nothing more than endanger lives and weaken our national security. Just because you play a part in a movie and think you know all about the character, doesn’t make you the expert on just how bad of a crime was committed by this loser.

    His actions apparently didn’t affect you directly. However, there are those out there that put their lives on the line for this country and sacrifice for everyone like yourself, just so you can speak your mind about anything…including this.

    Perhaps you should sit down and actually look at exactly what Snowden did, what he’s responsible for and how treasonous his actions are. Doing a Google search and reading just one side of something doesn’t make you a subject matter expert.

    It’s obvious you care little for the security of this country to think he is a hero. I’d like to think that if you feel so great about someone like that, perhaps you should go join him in Russia and leave this country; seeing how you feel that what he did to it wasn’t that big of a deal.

    I read that you grew up in a very liberal household…that explains a lot. I’m saddened to see such a fine young actress take such an anti-American stance about something so important. I can only hope and pray that one day you’ll realize the comments and feelings you have for this loser were a huge mistake. Perhaps with age and experience you’ll come to a better conclusion.

    Honestly, I would love to hear your thoughts about this and maybe a little more information as to “why” you feel the way you do. You have my email address. Feel free! 🙂

    Thanks,

    Edward M.

  4. I just wanted to thank you for censoring my original post by not posting it. I thought the comments section was for…wait for it…comments! Welcome to Iran!

    1. Edward, your comments have now been published. There was no censoring to begin with–the only comments I do not approve are spam or hateful ones, inappropriate ones directed at Shailene. I apologize for the delay approving them, however.

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