Political Thriller WORDS OF WAR Sells Internationally Across Multiple Territories
The film, based on the life of Russian-American Anna Politkovskaya,
exposes the dangers journalists face in the 21st century.
WASHINGTON (March 14, 2025) – The new political thriller WORDS OF WAR from two-time Academy Award® winner Sean Penn, starring BAFTA-nominee Maxine Peake (The Theory of Everything, The Village), BAFTA and Oscar-nominee Ciarán Hinds (Belfast, Game of Thrones), BAFTA-nominee Jason Isaacs (White Lotus, Harry Potter, Death of Stalin), has been acquired for international distribution across multiple territories.
Signature Entertainment has acquired rights for the U.K. and Ireland and plans a theatrical release. Other sales include Eagle Pictures in Italy, Divisa Films in Spain, Dimeo Films in Poland, and Front Row Entertainment in the Middle East. The film is being released theatrically in the United States by Rolling Pictures, with Neon and Bleecker Street joint-venture DECAL handling home entertainment rights after the theatrical window.
The cast is further bolstered by BAFTA Scotland-nominee Ian Hart (Backbeat, Escape from Pretoria, Harry Potter, The Last Kingdom), Ellie Bamber (Nocturnal Animals), Harry Lawtey (Joker: Folie à Deux, Industry), Naomi Battrick (The Postcard Killings), and SAG Award-nominee Ben Miles (Andor, The Crown).
The film was directed by Emmy and BAFTA Award winner James Strong (Broadchurch, Vigil) and written by Eric Poppen (Cyberjack, Borderland).
WORDS OF WAR was produced by Emmy Award winner Mark Maxey of Rolling Pictures (Space Oddity, As They Made Us), Miriam Segal of Good Films Collective (The Infiltrator, The Postcard Killings), Paul Brennan and Kia Jam (Lucky Number Slevin). Executive producers include two-time Academy Award® Winner Sean Penn (Milk, Mystic River) and Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-14). The film will be released in the U.S. on May 2, 2025, timed to the United Nations’ World Press Freedom Day.
Based on a true story, WORDS OF WAR follows world-renowned journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya on her brave crusade, fighting to be an independent voice of truth for the Russian people, putting her own life in jeopardy despite numerous acts of intimidation and violence. While Anna was ultimately silenced, her legacy lives on and her story serves as a reminder of the dangers that journalists face and the importance of protecting their right to report the news without fear of death or reprisal.
Matthew Shreder of Concourse Media, who represents worldwide rights, negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers with Begüm Kayacan Parodi on behalf of Signature Entertainment. “We are thrilled that Signature Entertainment is bringing this important film to theatrical audiences throughout the United Kingdom,” said Shreder, “With this incredible British cast and such a powerful and tragically timely story, it’s great that an award-winning film distribution company like Signature Entertainment recognizes the importance of sharing Anna’s story at this moment in history with all that is going on in the U.K. and around the globe.”
In an article titled Poisoned by Putin published by The Guardian two years before her murder, Politkovskaya writes, “We are hurtling back into a Soviet abyss, into an information vacuum that spells death from our own ignorance…if you want to go on working as a journalist, it's total servility to Putin. Otherwise, it can be death, the bullet, poison, or trial.”
“Anna is one of more than 1,800 journalists who have been killed so far this century while pursuing a story” said producer Mark Maxey, adding “no matter who you are, everyone should have the right to do their job well without fear of being killed.” Executive producer Sean Penn adds that journalists are as “essential to all our freedoms as air.” Producer Miriam Segal stated, “we’re preserving Anna’s memory and legacy with this inspiring homage to Anna and her courage.”
Maxine Peake plays Anna Politkovskaya, the title role. Peake is an English stage, radio, film and television actress, best known to American audiences for playing Steven Hawkings’ nurse and wife, Elaine Mason, in The Theory of Everything. Peake made her name in Europe as Twinkle in Victoria Wood’s sitcom Dinnerladies and has since played Veronica in Channel 4’s television series Shameless, barrister Martha Costello in the BBC legal drama Silk and Grace Middleton in The Village. Peake is also an accomplished stage actress, having played the title role in Hamlet.
Ciarán Hinds portrays Dmitry, Anna’s friend and Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief. Hinds is a prolific and award-winning actor known for his performances in major motion pictures like Belfast, The Woman in Black, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. He is known to television audiences for Game of Thrones, Rome, Above Suspicion and Shetland. Hinds voiced Grand Pabbie, the Troll King in the animated films Frozen and Frozen II. His stage career includes numerous productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and world tour in the title role of Richard III.
Jason Isaacs plays Sasha, Anna’s husband. Isaacs is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series. Other notable roles include Mr. Darling/Captain Hook in Peter Pan, Col. Tavington in The Patriot, Capt. Steele in Ridley Scott’s Blackhawk Down, Major Briggs in Green Zone, Capt. Waggoner in Fury, Capt. Lorca in Star Trek: Discovery, Field Marshal Zhukov in The Death of Stalin, Rear-Admiral Godfrey in John Madden’s Operation Mincemeat and Jay in the award-winning MASS.
The film is timely and important given that threats to journalists are increasing, with 122 killed in 2024, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists which tracks deaths of journalists worldwide.
After a pre-release screening of WORDS OF WAR at the prestigious National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the legendary Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward remarked, “It’s not only a powerful movie but is an absolute truth that authoritarian regimes, like in this case, assassinate reports.” Former CIA director John Brennan said, “The story of Anna Politkovskaya embodies what it means to be a courageous journalist,” adding “if we don’t have a vibrant and independent free press to expose what is happening in the world today, we are going to be beset by all the problems that we saw in this very powerful film.”
Maxine Peake is repped by Maison 2, Ciarán Hinds is repped by CAA, Jason Isaacs is repped by Gersh, James Strong is repped by CAA, Eric Poppen is repped by Bayshore Films & Management. Ian Hart is repped by Artist Rights Group (ARG) and Avalon Management, Ellie Bamber is repped by Curtis Brown Group and UTA, Harry Lawtey is repped by CAA and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher, Naomi Battrick is repped by Curtis Brown Group and Realm Talent, Ben Miles is repped by Markham, Froggatt and Irwin. Rolling Pictures is repped by Lon Haber & Co | IPPR.
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About Rolling Pictures
Rolling Pictures is a boutique motion picture company delivering development, packaging, production and editorial for feature films and television. Based in Burbank, California, Rolling Pictures produces prestige stories with top talent, such as Mayim Bialik’s directorial debut, As They Made Us with two-time Oscar-winner Dustin Hoffman and Academy Award-nominee and Emmy Award-winner Candice Bergen. The company was founded by producer Mark Maxey and musician/composer W.G. Snuffy Walden. Other projects include Space Oddity directed by Kyra Sedgwick and starring Alexandra Shipp, Kyle Allen, Kevin Bacon and Madeline Brewer, Rare Objects directed by and starring Katie Holmes with Alan Cumming, Derek Luke and Julia Mayorga, and Up to Snuff, a documentary featuring Aaron Sorkin, Martin Sheen, Tom Arnold, Fred Savage and Marshall Herskovitz. For more information, visit rollingpictures.com
About Signature Entertainment
Signature Entertainment is an award-winning film distribution and production company. Founded in 2011 it has become the leading independent distributor in the UK with an ever-growing global presence and an expansion into production and international sales in 2018. Signature has released over 1,500 films since its inception, with recent releases including award-winning George MacKay thriller Femme, critically acclaimed Jodie Comer drama The End We Start From, Cate Blanchett drama The New Boy and Viggo Mortensen theatrical success The Dead Don’t Hurt.
About Good Films Collective
Founded by Producer Miriam Segal, Good Films Collective is an independent, female-owned studio committed to producing high-quality, thought-provoking impactful films that entertain, resonate and empower. To date, Segal has produced a number of films including Good, starring Viggo Mortensen, The Infiltrator, starring Bryan Cranston, City of Lies, featuring Johnny Depp and Forest Whitaker, and The Postcard Killings, starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Famke Janssen. Upcoming productions include a film adaption of John Webster’s Jacobean play, The Duchess of Malfi, The Man Who Stole the Sky, a comedic biopic based on the mysterious disappearance of legendary thief and hijacker, D.B. Cooper, and The Postcard Killer. For more information, visit goodfilmscollective.com
About Concourse Media
Concourse Media was founded in 2011 as an independent film finance, production and distribution company that works with producers and distributors across the global entertainment industry. Concourse has distributed over 50 feature films since launching, with notable titles such as Chief of Station starring Aaron Eckhart and Olga Kurylenko, Sovereign starring Nick Offerman and Dennis Quaid, Percy vs Goliath starring Christopher Walken, and The Little Hours starring Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie and John C. Reilly. For more information on Concourse, please visit the company website at concourse-media.com
Press Contacts:
Lon Haber & Co | IPPR
wordsofwar@lonhaber.com
R&CMPK
wordsofwar@rcmpk.com