Here’s JGL as Edward Snowden. Discuss.
It’s been almost two years since we first heard about Edward Snowden—the government contractor who leaked classified NSA information to the media. Since then, he’s been labeled everything from an international hero to an enemy of the state. He’s also played a huge part in this year’s Oscar-winning documentary Citizenfour—which brought to light the more detailed and personal aspects of hishigh-stakes decision.
Now Snowden’s story is about to get another shot at the big screen with the upcoming biopic Snowden, starring our imaginary-guy-friend Joseph Gordon-Levitt, in the title role.
JGL officially started filming earlier this week and posted a picture on his Facebook page of himself in wardrobe. He writes, “I was surprised when I first learned this about Snowden—that he enlisted in the US Army in 2004. He wanted to go fight in Iraq, but during basic training at Fort Benning, he broke both of his legs and received an administrative discharge. After that, he was still determined to serve his country (love him or hate him, you gotta admit the guys’ strong-willed) and so he ended up getting a job at the CIA, which is where his career in Intelligence began.”
Snowden, which will be directed by Oliver Stone (kinda perfect, right?), is set for release on Christmas day of this year.
In the meantime, here’s JGL on set with Stone, wearing Snowden’s signature glasses.
As for the real life Snowden, who’s been granted immunity in Russia as of now and faces multiple charges in the US, he admitted in an interview today that he hopes to return home under the right conditions.
“I would love to go back and face a fair trial, but unfortunately … there is no fair trial available, on offer right now,” he said during a Q&A organized by Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, Ryerson University and the CBC. “I’ve been working exhaustively with the government now since I left to try to find terms of a trial.”
And so the incredible story of Edward Snowden continues.
