Oliver Stone is known for depicting famous real life stories on screen. And the list of his highly successful real-life depictions includes the Scarface, Kennedy assassination, the Watergate break-in, the Vietnam conflict, and the Bush administration’s ‘war on terror.’
The latest to be included in the list is the adaptation of ‘The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World’s Most Wanted Man,’ a book published earlier this year by Luke Harding, the Guardian journalist, on the ongoing NSA surveillance programs and Snowden’s role in exposing it, according to a media report.
“This is one of the greatest stories of our time. A real challenge,” said Stone.
The Oscar-winning director plans to produce the movie with his regular business partner Moritz Borman, while Harding and other Guardian journalists will be production and story consultants.
“I’m glad to have the Guardian working with us,” commented Stone.
The shooting is scheduled to begin before the end of this year.
Snowden, a former NSA contractor, leaked thousands of classified documents on NSA’s surveillance program to two journalists, Laura Poitras and Glenn Greenwald, who have been releasing the documents intermittently bit by bit.
The revelations not only irked the general American public for violating their right to privacy guaranteed by the Constitution but also caused a global ruckus when some of the countries that were friendly with the US learnt they were being spied.
It forced the Obama administration to address the concerns of general public regarding privacy as well as go back foot on the program.
Snowden, ever since he leaked the documents, has been staying under a temporary asylum in Russia.
He has been regarded as a hero by supporters who view him as a patriot speaking his mind and standing for the values he believed in. Stone is one such supporter and he had categorically stated in August 2013 at the Japan Foreign Press Club,
“Snowden is a hero to me. Edward Snowden is a hero. Because he did this not for profit, not to give, exchange, give secrets away that could hurt our country supposedly. I haven’t seen one evidence of that. He is doing it out of conscience. The higher law of his conscience is dictated it. He sacrificed his life for this.”
His critics think otherwise. They consider him a traitor, who if penalized deserves nothing less than a death penalty.
Meanwhile, the book, on which the movie will be based, has received excellent reviews. According to the New York Times, it is,
“a fast-paced, almost novelistic narrative that is part bildungsroman and part cinematic thriller.”
Alan Rusbridger, the Guardian Editor-in-Chief, is highly delighted to be working with Oliver Stone and Moritz Borman and feels the story of Edward Snowden to be truly extraordinary.
“The story of Edward Snowden is truly extraordinary, and the unprecedented revelations he brought to light have forever transformed our understanding of – and relationship with – government and technology,” said Alan.
The movie may face a stiff competition from James Bond’s production based on ‘No Place to Hide,’ a book by Glenn Greenwald.
Additionally, worth pondering—– Will these silver screen productions pave way for Snowden’s homecoming??
Edward is ready for a dialogue with the US and he earnestly wants to return home. He admitted that recently on his first ever American television interview to NBC News
“I’d like to go home…But if I could go anywhere in the world, that place