America’s foremost Oliver Stone type, Oliver Stone, will adapt The Snowden Files by Guardian reporter Luke Harding, The Guardian reports. (Harding and other Guardian journalists will consult.) “This is one of the greatest stories of our time,” said the JFK, Nixon, and W. director. “A real challenge.” Stone has previously called Snowden a “hero” and President Obama a “disgrace” and a “snake” for his “Bush-style eavesdropping techniques,” so we pretty much know the angle on this one. The biggest question is whether Ed Norton is too old for the lead.
Making things more interesting is a competing film in the works from the producers of James Bond, based on the other Snowden book by Glenn Greenwald, who brought Snowden’s document stash to The Guardian in the first place. Greenwald, of course, has since moved on to his own project, First Look Media, with billionaire-backer Pierre Omidyar.
Meanwhile, media critic Michael Wolff writes in a British GQ column today that The Guardian, even without Greenwald, “essentially went into the Edward Snowden business — and continues in it.” And right on cue: “The story of Edward Snowden is truly extraordinary, and the unprecedented revelations he brought to light have forever transformed our understanding of — and relationship with — government and technology,” said Guardian editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger in the movie announcement. “We’re delighted to be working with Oliver Stone and Moritz Borman on the film.” For the newspaper, Snowden is now subject, source, and star.
