Michael
Cuesta’s (Homeland) Kill the Messenger as begun its production and until this
point we only knew that actors Jeremy Renner, Rosemarie DeWitt, Paz Vega and
Michael Kenneth Williams were on board, but today a press release added some
new faces to the film; Andy Garcia, Tim Blake Nelson, Robert Patrick, Barry
Pepper, Oliver Platt, Michael Sheen and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Kill
the Messenger is about the real life reporter Gary Webb (Renner), was life was turned
upside down when he connected the CIA to an arms deal with Contra rebels in
Nicaragua and imported cocaine in California. After publishing his book “Dark
Alliance” in 1996, Webb was victim of a smear campaign by rival journalists and
the CIA, which eventually drove him into a depression.
Kill
the Messenger opens in 2014.
Here
is the press release:
PRODUCTION
UNDERWAY ON KILL THE MESSENGER,
TRUE-LIFE
DRAMATIC THRILLER STARRING ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE JEREMY RENNER FOR DIRECTOR
MICHAEL CUESTA (HOMELAND)
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW
YORK, July 25th, 2013 – Production has begun in Atlanta, Georgia on Kill the
Messenger. Focus Features holds worldwide theatrical rights to the true-life
dramatic thriller, which will be released in 2014. Focus CEO James Schamus and
co-CEO Andrew Karpen made the announcement today.
Two-time
Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner stars as Gary Webb, the real-life dedicated
reporter for The San Jose Mercury-News. In the 1990s, Webb uncovered the
Central Intelligence Agency’s role in importing cocaine into California that
was sold to raise money for the Nicaraguan Contras rebel army. Supported by his
wife and children, Webb pursued the story and went public with his evidence.
When targeted for a vicious smear campaign by the CIA and rival journalists,
Webb found himself fighting for his reputation and his family.
Joining
Mr. Renner in the cast are Josh Close (of The Master), Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel
Getting Married), Academy Award nominee Andy Garcia, Lucas Hedges (Focus’
Moonrise Kingdom), Tim Blake Nelson (Lincoln), Robert Patrick (True Blood),
Emmy Award winner Barry Pepper, Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Oliver Platt,
Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon), Paz Vega (I’m So Excited!), Michael Kenneth
Williams (Boardwalk Empire), and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (The Spectacular Now).
Michael
Cuesta, an Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner for Homeland, is directing the
movie from a screenplay by Peter Landesman that was inspired by the books Kill
the Messenger, by Nick Schou; and Dark Alliance, by Gary Webb.
A
Bluegrass Films production, the movie’s producers are Scott Stuber; Mr. Renner;
and Naomi Despres. The film’s executive producers are Mr. Landesman; Don
Handfield; Michael Bederman; and Pamela Abdy.
The
filmmakers of Kill the Messenger also include production designer John Paino (whose
latest credit is Focus’ upcoming Dallas Buyers Club), director of photography
Sean Bobbitt (Focus’ The Place Beyond the Pines), and editor Brian Kates (The
Savages).
Mr.
Schamus and Mr. Karpen commented, “The story of Gary Webb, and the story he broke,
is at once thrilling, emotional, and relevant to all of us in ‘the information
age.’ Our team of filmmakers has been tireless in working to get this movie
made, and we know that audiences will empathize with Jeremy’s compassionate
portrayal of a man who did the right thing at great personal and professional
cost.”
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