Soldier. Fugitive. Hacker. Traitor. Hero. Whistleblower. And, soon, cinematic showcase.
Appearing at the ongoing San Diego Comic-Con, director Oliver Stone rolled out the pulsing new trailer for Snowden, his button-pressing drama that chronicles the digital revolt staged by one Edward Snowden.
Twice delayed, it’s understood Open Road Films will conduct a private screening of the movie during the event, though today’s all-new sizzle reel is an exciting tease of what’s to come. Played to a haunting rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In,” Stone’s real-life drama places a laser focus on Snowden’s time as a private contractor working under the NSA, CIA and various other companies within the intelligence industry.
Getting to this stage hasn’t been smooth sailing, of course; for the longest time, Oliver Stone was adamant that he wouldn’t helm such a contentious feature. This, coupled with the fact that all Hollywood studios passed on the script doomed his movie to the shelf. But after meeting with Snowden himself multiple times, Stone slowly began to warm to the idea, telling TIME that, “I met him for the first time in late January of 2014. Over the period of three more meetings until May, it was a process of cat and mouse, of him trusting the process. he wasn’t particularly interested in the movie.”
Assuming the title role as the NSA whistleblower is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, rubbing shoulders with The Divergent Series stalwart Shailene Woodley as Snowden’s girlfriend, Nicolas Cage, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Tom Wilkinson, Rhys Ifans, Joely Richardson, Scott Eastwood and Timothy Olyphant.
Look for Oliver Stone’s button-pressing – and Oscar-tipped – Snowden to finally make its bow in theaters on September 16.