Sean Penn is set to direct a new film about the January 6 Capitol riot, with Bradley Cooper in talks to star. The Oscar-winning actor will write and direct the fact-based movie, which follows a police officer involved in the 2021 insurrection.
Untitled Project Described as a Passion Project
According to Deadline, Penn will bring what has been described as a "passion project" to the screen. The as-yet-untitled drama will center on a police officer who becomes entangled in the violent events of January 6. Cooper is reportedly in negotiations to portray the officer.
The film has also been referred to as an "unexpected story about friendship" and will be made in collaboration with the real-life subject, whose identity is currently being kept confidential.
Penn's Involvement in January 6 Committee
Penn attended a January 6 House committee hearing in 2022, describing himself as "just another citizen" there to observe. "I think we all saw what happened on January 6, and now we're looking to see if justice comes on the other side of it," he said at the time.
Penn has previously referred to Donald Trump as "an enemy of mankind" and a "narcissist."
Penn and Cooper's Recent Work
Penn recently won his second Oscar for his role in Paul Thomas Anderson's comedy thriller One Battle After Another. He did not attend the awards ceremony as he was in Ukraine with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. His first Oscar came for playing gay activist Harvey Milk in Milk.
Cooper, who has received 12 Oscar nominations, was last seen in the comedy Is This Thing On?, which he also directed. He will next appear in Bong Joon-ho's animated adventure Ally alongside Ayo Edebiri, and will also write, direct, and star in an Ocean's Eleven prequel with Margot Robbie.
Other January 6 Projects
The events of January 6 are also believed to be loosely covered in Aaron Sorkin's upcoming Facebook sequel The Social Reckoning, which examines social media's role in the insurrection.
