Watch: First trailer for Netflix’s The Trial of the Chicago 7

Staff Writer

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“The whole world is watching.” That’s the main thrust behind the trailer for The Trial of the Chicago 7, Aaron Sorkin’s new Netflix movie.

Sorkin’s drama follows what was intended to be a peaceful protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, which turned into a violent clash with police and the National Guard. The organisers of the protest — including Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden and Bobby Seale — were charged with conspiracy to incite a riot and the trial that followed was one of the most notorious in history.

To retell the story of that notorious trial, Sorkin’s assembled a frankly astounding cast, including Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Frank Langella, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Jeremy Strong, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Michael Keaton, John Carroll Lynch and Alex Sharp. You can see them all in action on 16th October. Until then, here’s the trailer:

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First look: Netflix’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 set for October release

23rd July 2020

Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 will be released worldwide by Netflix this October, and we’ve got our first look at the star-studded drama.

The film, which was previously set to be distributed by Paramount, sees the West Wing scribe chart the anti-Vietnam War protests that took place during the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

Intended as peaceful demonstrations, they turned into a violent clash with police and the National Guard. The organisers of the protest included Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden and Bobby Seale, and the group of seven activists were charged with conspiracy, inciting to riot and other charges. The notorious trial is certainly timely given the current spotlight on divisions within modern society, police brutality and the right for people to protest.

Snapped up by Netflix this summer, it stars a who’s who of Hollywood, with Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mark Rylance, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella, Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II among the ensemble cast.

You can see them all in action on 16th October, when the film’s released. Until then, here’s a host of new stills:

Netflix nabs Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7

2nd July 2020

Netflix has nabbed Aaron Sorkin’s latest film, The Trial of the Chicago 7.

The film, which was previously set to be distributed by Paramount, sees the West Wing scribe chart the anti-Vietnam War protests that took place during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Intended as peaceful demonstrations, they turned into a violent clash with police and the National Guard. The organisers of the protest included Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden and Bobby Seale, and the group of seven activists were charged with conspiracy, inciting to riot and other charges. The notorious trial is certainly timely given the current spotlight on divisions within modern society, police brutality and the right for people to protest.

The filmmakers, unsurprisingly, were keen for the movie to be seen by a wide audience around the time of the November presidential elections in the US, so with cinemas still navigating how to open during the coronavirus pandemic, Netflix has emerged as the alternative option.

Talks have been ongoing for some time for Netflix to bag the film from producers Cross Creek Pictures, with complications arising from the fact that the international rights had been sold in many territories. Now, though, those talks have concluded, with Netflix emerging with the global rights and compensations paid to international buyers. The total price tag is reportedly just shy of $60 million.

For that price, Netflix has nabbed a supremely star-studded cast, including Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mark Rylance, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella, Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. The result is the latest in a line of awards contenders in the pipeline for the streamer, including David Fincher’s Mank, Ron Howard’s Hillbilly Elegy and Ramin Bahrani’s White Tiger, not to mention Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods.

Expect it on Netflix in time for November.