Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been offered the role of Edward Snowden in Oliver Stone’s, tentatively titled, The Snowden Files. Snowden, a former U.S. intelligence analyst, released more classified documents than anyone since Daniel Ellsberg released the Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam War.
A Variety source claims that Stone offered Gordon-Levitt the lead role, and he accepted it. However, they are still working on negotiations. So no formal contracts have been signed, but both men want the deal to go through.
Stone is currently working on the script, and will be directing the film. He will also be producing it with Eric Kopeloff and Moritz Borman. The Snowden Files will be based on the novel Time of the Octopus by Anatoly Kucherena, Snowden’s Russian lawyer. It’s considered the closest thing to a documented account of the events that happened after Snowden released the NSA documents. The Snowden Files will also be based on journalist Luke Harding’s book The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World’s Most Wanted Man.
Am taking time away from social media for some deeper writing & the aloneness of it. Hope something comes of it. #Snowden & another project.
— Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) July 25, 2014
Yes, am writing the screenplay for the #Snowden story as reported in the @Guardian, a terrific partner. http://t.co/Swzml9pr9Y
— Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) June 5, 2014
If Stone and Gordon-Levitt reach a deal soon, the Snowden Files could start filming as early as December, with a 2015 release. Meanwhile Gordon-Levitt continues to stay busy. He recently filmed The Walk, a film about Philippe Petit. Petit was a french high-wire artist who in 1974 attempted to cross the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Levitt is also currently filming an untitled Christmas Eve movie with 50/50 co-star Seth Rogen.
Both films have a 2015 release. This summer, Gordon-Levitt played Johnny in the Sin City sequel, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.