Sean Penn to direct film about January 6 Capitol assault

The Oscar-winning actor and director is preparing a new feature film inspired by the events of January 6, 2021. Bradley Cooper is in discussions to play the lead role.

After several years away from directing, Sean Penn tackles one of the most significant and controversial episodes in recent political history of the United States: the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The Oscar winner will write and direct an as-yet-untitled film for Warner Bros. Pictures. The project will follow the early years of a police officer who was at the Capitol during the attack by supporters of Donald Trump. According to information revealed by the American media, the identity of the real agent who inspired the character has not yet been revealed. On the other hand, Bradley Cooper is currently being considered for the main role.

Officially, the feature film is presented as “an unexpected story about friendship”. A definition which surprised some observers given the particularly explosive context of the story. Several sources close to the project also assure that the film will not directly focus on the events of January 6 and that these will only constitute a peripheral element of the plot.

The fact remains that the subject promises to be particularly sensitive in today’s America. The film comes at a special time for Warner Bros. Discovery, whose merger with Paramount has just been approved by the American courts. However, the future boss of the new group, David Ellison, recently highlighted his links with Donald Trump. The leader has notably participated in several events organized around the American president in recent months. Conversely, Sean Penn has regularly been very critical of Trump, going so far as to describe him in the past as a“enemy of humanity”.

What future for this project when the merger between Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount will definitely be finalized?

Sean Penn, committed filmmaker Harvey Milk notably, has just won his third Oscar thanks to One Battle after another already produced by Warner Bros. He is writing the screenplay for the film and will produce it alongside John Ira Palmer and John Wildermuth through their company Projected Picture Works.

Filming is currently scheduled for mid-2027.