We have already learned that Benedict Cumberbatch is set to play Julian Assange in Bill Condon‘s untitled film about the founding of Wikileaks.
Then comes word that new Robocop Joel Kinnaman had been eyed for the role of Assange’s right hand man Daniel Domscheit-Berg, but now it appears that James McAvoy is the one who’s getting the part.
Domcheit-Berg is the author of ‘Inside WikiLeaks: My Time With Julian Assange At The World’s Most Dangerous Website’ the book that will serve as the basis for the film along with DreamWorks’ other acquisition ‘WikiLeaks: Inside Julian Assange’s War On Secrecy,’ by David Leigh and Luke Harding, British journalists who worked at The Guardian.
Josh Singer will adapt the screenplay.
Production will start next year and will work around McAvoy’s X-Men sequel schedule.
Thesp also recently wrapped up filming on a two-part drama The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby opposite Jessica Chastain, and will soon be seen in Danny Boyle’s heist thriller Trance, as well as IFC Films’ thriller Welcome to the Punch.
‘Inside WikiLeaks’, released in 2011 is officially described as follows:
Since its launch in 2006, WikiLeaks has rapidly grown into the most powerful and influential whistleblowing organisation ever. Its status as a repository and publisher of leaked sensitive and confidential documents — while preserving the anonymity and untraceability of its contributors — as well as the statements and behaviour of its leader, Julian Assange, have made WikiLeaks daily front-page news and a topic of enormous controversy.
In this eye-opening account, Daniel Domscheit-Berg, who joined WikiLeaks in its early days and became its spokesman, reveals never-disclosed details about the inner workings of the organisation that has struck fear into governments and businesses worldwide. He also provides a remarkably up-close portrait of Julian Assange himself.
Under the pseudonym Daniel Schmitt, Domscheit-Berg was effectively No. 2 at WikiLeaks and the organisation’s most public face after Julian Assange. In this book, he tells the backstories of major leaks, and reveals the evolution, finances, and inner tensions of the whistleblower organisation, beginning with his first meeting with Assange in December 2007. He also describes what led to his September 2010 withdrawal from WikiLeaks, including his disenchantment with the organisation’s lack of transparency, its abandonment of political neutrality, and Assange’s increasing concentration of power.
Source: Variety
