A film crew just finished shooting today at the old Douglas County jail, for the movie, Kill the Messenger, due to be released in 2014. The shoot lasted two days.
Based on the true-life story of journalist Gary Webb, the dramatic thriller stars two-time Academy Award Nominee Jeremy Renner for director Michael Cuesta (Homeland).
Focus Features holds worldwide theatrical rights to the true-life dramatic thriller. Focus CEO James Schamus and co-CEO Andrew Karpen made the announcement today in a press release.
Renner stars as Gary Webb, the real-life dedicated reporter for The San Jose Mercury-News. In the 1990s, Webb uncovered the Central Intelligence
Agency’s role in importing cocaine into California that was sold to raise money for the Nicaraguan Contras rebel army. Supported by his wife and children, Webb pursued the story and went public with his evidence. When targeted for a vicious smear campaign by the CIA and rival journalists, Webb found himself fighting for his reputation and his family.
Joining Renner in the cast are Josh Close (of The Master), Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married), Academy Award nominee Andy Garcia, Lucas Hedges (Focus’ Moonrise Kingdom), Tim Blake Nelson (Lincoln), Robert Patrick (True Blood), Emmy Award winner Barry Pepper, Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Oliver Platt, Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon), Paz Vega (I’m So Excited!), Michael Kenneth Williams (Boardwalk Empire), and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (The Spectacular Now).
Michael Cuesta, an Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner for Homeland, is directing the movie from a screenplay by Peter Landesman that was inspired by the books Kill the Messenger, by Nick Schou; and Dark Alliance, by Gary Webb.
A Bluegrass Films production, the movie’s producers are Scott Stuber; Renner; and Naomi Despres. The film’s executive producers are Mr. Landesman; Don Handfield; Michael Bederman; and Pamela Abdy.
The filmmakers of Kill the Messenger also include production designer John Paino (whose latest credit is Focus’ upcoming Dallas Buyers Club), director of photography Sean Bobbitt (Focus’ The Place Beyond the Pines), and editor Brian Kates (The Savages). Schamus and Karpen said in a release, “The story of Gary Webb, and the story he broke, is at once thrilling, emotional, and relevant to all of us in ‘the information age.’ Our team of filmmakers has been tireless in working to get this movie made, and we know that audiences will empathize with Jeremy’s compassionate portrayal of a man who did the right thing at great personal and professional cost.”
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