Aaron Sorkin’s second directorial feature ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ seems to have been in the works forever with an already impressive cast attached. It appears the project could be moving again with the casting of Michael Keaton.
Keaton will play real-life progressive lawyer Ramsey Clark, a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement.
The story focuses on the infamous 1969 trial of seven defendants charged with conspiracy by the federal government in the aftermath of the protests at Chicago’s 1968 Democratic National Convention. It will be shot in Chicago and New Jersey.
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Keaton will join a cast of Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Eddie Redmayne who plays play, anti-war activist, Tom Hayden, Sascha Baron Cohen as Youth International Party co-founder Abbie Hoffman, Jonathan Majors as Bobby Seale, Alex Sharp as activist, Rennie Davis. Rogan will play the role of fellow founding YIP member, Jerry Rubin while Gordon-Levitt will play prosecuting attorney, Richard Schultz.
Originally penned by Sorkin for Spielberg to direct, a few budgeting issues put a delay on the picture being made. Moving from its home at Amblin to Paramount Pictures Spielberg stepped down and Sorkin is now in the driving seat.
The film is scheduled for release on October 2, 2020.
With a long career behind including playing the role of Bruce Wayne aka ‘Batman,’ and starring in ‘Birdman’ and ‘Spider-man: Homecoming’, Keaton was last seen in Disney’s live-action ‘Dumbo’. His upcoming projects include ‘ What Life is Worth’ alongside Stanley Tucci.
