The Trial of the Chicago 7 News

Ben Stiller Contending for 'The Trial of the Chicago 7' Director Part

October 23, 2008 01:10:06

Moving on from his successful "Tropic Thunder" movie, Ben Stiller may next serve as the director of "The Trial of the Chicago 7". On the subject, The Hollywood Reporter claimed that the comedian has become one of the candidates for the director part, considering that he is in early talks for the behind-the-lens role.

With the outing of this report, Stiller can be enlisted among the other directors who are also linked for the role, including Steven Spielberg and Paul Greengrass. Though he has directed several hit comedies, like "Thunder" and "Zoolander", the drama project will be the 42-year-old's first serious political movie if he is indeed picked up as the helmer.

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'Bourne' Director Paul Greengrass to Replace Steven Spielberg for 'Chicago 7'

August 11, 2008 12:08:21

Despite the fact that Steven Spielberg has been confirmed to be out of "The Trial of the Chicago 7" directional picture, DreamWorks SKG seems to refuse letting the drama movie to go down the drain. Words are the studio now has Paul Greengrass, the director of the last two "Bourne" movies, including "The Bourne Ultimatum", attached for the project.

First to break out the news was Film School Rejects. Claiming to get the tidbit from Production Weekly's pages, Rejects noted that Weekly has updated its "Chicago 7" listing which pointed out that Greengrass' name has been listed on the director's slot. Still, DreamWorks have yet to make any formal announcement about this subject.

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No Steven Spielberg in 'Chicago 7'

August 06, 2008 04:08:20

Back in February, reports have been buzzing over the speculation of "The Trial of the Chicago 7" delay due to Steven Spielberg's exit from the project. While for months the news has been left hanging without any further details of confirmation, a recent interview with producer Walter F. Parkes unveils the problem behind the rumor.

Opening up about the matter to Movie Web, Parkes confirmed that the acclaimed director has no longer been attached to the drama movie. "We're working on Chicago 7. We have a wonderful script," said the producer of "The Kite Runner". "We haven't quite settled on a director yet, and that's probably the next one down the pipe."

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Stephen Spielberg Dropped Out, 'Chicago 7' Delayed?

February 23, 2008 10:02:27

As the Brett Morgen's documentary film "Chicago 10" about the eight anti-war protesters who were put on trial following the 1968 Democratic National Convention is nearing its limited release on February 29, it was reported that the dramatic feature film based on the same story "The Trial of the Chicago 7" may be put on hold. According to Collider.com, the Aaron Sorkin's film is more likely to be delayed because its director Stephen Spielberg has left the project.

Reportedly, the director has bowed out from the project because he was not satisfied with the script. According to Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood Daily, the acclaimed director backed out from the film because he believes that the film's scrips still needs more work and thus the film might not be finalized before the SAG's contract expires in June. On the actor's strike, a source close to the director explained, "It's a de facto casualty of SAG. He's still working on it with producers Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald and still keenly interested. But because of the uncertainty over a SAG strike, he has to push the date."

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I Am Legend Star Cast in Chicago 7?

January 04, 2008 12:01:42

Following the news that Sacha Baron Cohen is cast in Steven Spielberg's "The Trial of the Chicago 7" a few days back, more Hollywood names who might be up for roles in the drama film has been leaked. According to reports, the Vanity Vair's article about "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" has given out hints that Will Smith, Taye Diggs, Adam Arkin, Kevin Spacey and Philip Seymour Hoffman could be attached to the new project.

In the article posted on VanityFair.com, Jim Windolf, the writer, wrote down, "My glance strays to a side table, where headshots of actors under consideration for his likely next directing project, Chicago 7 - about the conspiracy trial that grew out of protests at the 1968 Democratic convention - lie on the surface. Among them I spy Will Smith, Taye Diggs, Adam Arkin, and Kevin Spacey; Sacha Baron Cohen (as Abbie Hoffman) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (as William Kunstler) are also linked to the project, which has a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin."

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Sacha Baron Cohen Set to Play in Steven Spielberg's New Project

January 02, 2008 09:01:41

A week after announcing that he had retired his comic character Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen has been cast in Dream Work's new project, "The Trial of the Chicago 7". According to reports, the actor famous for his role as Ali G in in television series "Da Ali G Show" will star as Abbie Hoffman, an anti-Vietnam War activists arrested at the 1968 Democratic Convention.

In the drama film, Cohen will join the acclaimed director Steven Spielberg who is said set to also produce the picture alongside Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald. The movie that is slanted for release in 2010 is based on the violent protests of the 1968 Democratic Party Convention in the US in which Hoffman found fame by playing pranks to campaign against the Vietnam War conflict.

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Steven Spielberg May Go Into the "Trial"

July 13, 2007 01:07:35

Prominent filmmaker Steven Spielberg may really get busier for the couple of years from now. Already has "Lincoln" and "Interstellar" in his future helming credits, the celebrated director reportedly is hoping to go behind the camera again for "The Trial of the Chicago 7."

Project turns out to be the first of the three-films deals screenwriter Aaron Sorkin has struck with DreamWorks Pictures, which is currently enjoying the massive success of "Transformers" that Spielberg executive produced. Story will center on the trials of protestors at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago, where clashes between demonstrators and police made it one of the defining events of the 60s.

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