In an exclusive from Vanity Fair, we get the first new images of Aaron Sorkin’s political crime drama The Trial of the Chicago 7. The film is Sorkin’s sophomore effort, after making his directorial debut with 2017’s Molly’s Game. The Trial of the Chicago 7 takes place during the 1968 Democratic Convention, when seven political activists were arrested and later charged with conspiracy to incite a riot after police violently tried to break up an anti-Vietnam War protest, using batons and tear gas against the protesters. This film is definitely timely, given the BLM protests currently going on America.
The conception of the film actually began fourteen years ago, when Sorkin was summoned to Spielberg’s house because he wanted to make a movie about the riots at the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention and the trial that followed. Sorkin was only seven years old when these events occurred, but after his research, he was hooked. Spielberg wanted the film to be released before the 2008 election, but the 2007 Screen Writers Guild strike put a damper on that possibility.
Paul Greengrass was set to direct, but that, and other possibilities, also fell through. A year and a half ago, Spielberg decided it was time to resurrect the project, and having seen Molly’s Game, suggested Sorkin direct it instead. The plan was to release it before the 2020 election, with Sorkin highlighting the similarities between the political situation then and now. Spielberg must be psychic or something, because they couldn’t have chosen a better time to debut the film.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 will be make its debut on Netflix come October 16, 2020.
Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site.
