The streaming giant Netflix has set a release date of October 16 for Aaron Sorkin’s star-studded political drama “The Trial of the Chicago 7”, three weeks before the national election.
Netflix closed the deal on July 1 with Cross Creek Pictures for the drama, which sums up the trial that followed what were purported to be peaceful protests that turned violent at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Organizers of the protest, including Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden and Bobby Seale, were charged with conspiracy to incite a revolt.
Netlix also released first-look photos on Twitter on Wednesday, pointing to the “great energy of hair” on several of the stars. Mark Strong’s character Jerry Rubin appears to be smoking pot in one classroom at one time.
Hoffman is portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen with Eddie Redmayne as Hayden, Strong as Rubin, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen as Seale. Michael Keaton plays Ramsey Clark, John Carroll Lynch plays the defendant David Dellinger, Alex Sharp plays the defendant Rennie Davis, and Frank Langella plays the presiding judge Julius Hoffman. Mark Rylance plays the lawyer William Kuntsler.
The producers are Marc Platt, Stuart Besser, Matt Jackson and Tyler Thompson. Executive producers are Laurie MacDonald, Walter Parkes, Marc Butan, Anthony Katagas, James Rodenhouse, Shivani Rawat, and Nia Vazirani.
Sorkin won an Academy Award for Screenplay Adapted for his screenplay for “The Social Network” and was nominated for his screenplays for “Moneyball” and “Molly’s Game”. He also made his directorial debut in “Molly’s Game,” starring Jessica Chastain.
