Harrison Fordknows a thing or two about official secrets thanks to his days involved withStar Wars: The Force Awakens, but his new film is one he can actually talk about freely. It was announced today that Ford would be joining directorJustin Chadwick’sOfficial Secrets, the much more succinctly titled adaptation ofMarcia and Thomas Mitchell’sbest-selling book, “The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War: Katherine Gun and The Secret Plot to Sanction the Iraq Invasion.“That mouthful was adapted bySara and Gregory Bernsteinand will be produced byElizabeth Fowler.
Also joining Ford in this new endeavor arePaul Bettanyof Marvel movies fame,Natalie Dormerof HBO’sGame of Thrones,Martin FreemanofThe Hobbitfilms, andSir Anthony Hopkins, whom you might recognize from some of cinema’s finest moments. They’re all on board the espionage thriller which is slated to begin principal photography in May 2016 in the U.K.
Here’s the official synopsis and casting breakdown:
In the run up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Katharine Gun (Dormer), a young British intelligence officer reveals a secret illegal NSA spy operation against the UN Security Council designed to ensure passage of a resolution for war to Martin Bright (Bettany) a reporter at the British newspaper, The London Observer. Katharine’s arrest following the leak makes headlines around the world. In an attempt to gain the evidence to free Katharine, Martin unearths the shocking plot which puts both Katharine and Martin’s lives in great jeopardy. Freeman will be playing Peter Edwards, the foreign affairs editor at The Observer, while Hopkins is playing a retired UK general, and Ford, a CIA agent.
This is a solid cast from lead to supporting roles, but you should also be familiar with Chadwick’s work. He recently directedTulip Feverstarring Academy Award winnerChristoph Waltzand Academy Award nomineeAlicia Vikander; that film will be released by The Weinstein Co. in 2016. Chadwick also directed The Weinstein Co.’s Academy Award nominated filmMandela: Long Walk to Freedomstarring Golden Globe nomineeIdris Elba, as well as Columbia Pictures’The Other Boleyn GirlstarringNatalie Portman,Scarlett JohanssonandEric Bana.
