Sean Penn Executive Produced Thriller ‘Words of War’ Gets May Release Date
By Jazz Tangcay
“Words of War,” the political thriller executive produced by Sean Penn, will be released in theaters on May 2.
Rolling Pictures and Decal announced the release date along with an official poster. Directed by James Strong (“Broadchurch,” “Vigil”), the film is also executive produced by Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-14).
“Words of War” is based on a true story and 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 Politkovskaya 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.
Said Penn, “’Words of War’ is a tribute to Anna Politkovskaya and journalists around the world, whose fearless reporting of savage wars and unvarnished criticism of savage leaders are essential to all our freedoms. He continued, “This film succeeds beautifully as cinema and its drama will entertain you, while equally serving as a meditation on the ways we can regroup our sense of our own place, of what our voices must do. As Anna herself said, ‘there’s nothing of value apart from the truth.’”
Producer Mark Maxey added, “Every journalist should have the right to report what is happening in the world without fear of death or reprisal. In this era where truth is under siege daily, journalists stand as the last line of defense. Protecting them is not just a duty — it’s a fight for freedom itself.”
The film’s release date is pegged to the United Nations’ World Press Freedom Day. Decal will handle the home entertainment distribution for the film in the following months.
The cast includes Maxine Peake (“The Theory of Everything,” “The Village”), Ciarán Hinds (“Belfast,” “Game of Thrones”), Jason Isaacs (“White Lotus”), Ian Hart (“Backbeat”), Ellie Bamber (“Nocturnal Animals”), Harry Lawtey (“Joker: Folie à Deux”), Sophie Simnett (“Daybreak”) and Ben Miles (“Andor”).
The film was written by Eric Poppen (“Borderland”).
World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the U.N. General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. Since then, May 3, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. May 3rd acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. It is an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; defend the media from attacks on their independence; and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Congressman Swalwell, the primary sponsor of the H.R.3121 Journalist Protection Act 118 Cong. (2023) – which would make intentionally harming a journalist with the intent of intimidating them from doing their job a federal crime – said, “You don’t have to sacrifice your life as Anna did, but if you can embody her resilience, continue to push boundaries and pursue the truth with the same unwavering dedication, then I promise, we’re going to be OK.”
Good Films Collective and Rolling Pictures are also producers on the film.
Executive producers include Penn, Stefanie Scott, Rick Crumly, Eric Swalwell, Paul Mandell, Alexandra and David Bell, Simon Fawcett, Jonathan Taylor, Brian Crist, Andrew Wing, Grant Johnson, Brett Nemeroff, Ashley and William Akridge, John Pettit, Norman Merry and Peter Hampden. Co-executive producers include Teresa and Robert Valencia, Richard Schnase, Craig Albrecht and Tracy Hannah.
Concourse Media has acquired world rights for “Words of War” and is presenting the film to international buyers in Berlin at the European Film Market (EFM).
Read this story on Variety