A biopic is in the works on the life of Reality Winner, a former American intelligence contractor who was arrested for leaking a classified report about Russias interference in the 2016 election and charged with the first criminal leak case in President Donald Trumps administration.
The project, titled Winner, was announced on Tuesday by producers Big Beach, the production team behind The Farewell and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Susanna Fogel, the co-writer of Booksmart and director of The Spy Who Dumped Me, is set to direct from a script by Kerry Howley. Howley is the author of an article in New York Magazine from 2017 called Who is Reality Winner? that also serves as the basis of the screenplay.
Reality Leigh Winner was a 25-year-old federal contractor employed at the NSA in Georgia who in May 2017, was arrested and accused by the Justice Department of sending a classified report to the news site The Intercept. The report described two cyberattacks by Russias military intelligence unit that showed Russias interference in the 2016 election. According to the Justice Department via the New York Times, Winner was arrested hours before the story in The Intercept detailing the hacking published and that she confessed to printing out the document and mailing it to the news outlet. Winner was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for violating the Espionage Act, which was the longest sentence ever imposed in federal court.
As described in Howleys story, however, Winner made for an unusual ideological combatant and leaker. Winner had an active social media presence and didnt fit the profile of someone like Edward Snowden.
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Dani Melia and Peter Saraf of Big Beach are producing alongside Amanda Phillips, who brought the project to them.
We are honored to be bringing Reality Winners story to screen from a beautiful screenplay by Kerry Howley. We have been longtime fans of Susanna Fogel and can think of no one better to capture this complex character through an empathetic and human lens. This is an urgent story that far too few Americans are aware of, and we have assembled the perfect creative team to tell it, Melia said.
Reality Winner is a mouthpiece for a generation of young people who are struggling to square their personal ethics with the crumbling ethics of our countrys institutions, which we want to be proud of and have allegiance to. Kerrys incredible script lays the groundwork for us to approach her timely story with humor and emotion, rather than preaching or partisanship. And as a longtime obsessive fan of Big Beachs films, Im beyond honored to partner with them, Fogel said.
Its a privilege to work with this dream team to tell the important story of the fascinating, brave and hilarious Reality Winner, producer Phillips said in a statement.
Fogel is represented by UTA and Lighthouse Management & Media. Howley is represented by CAA and Anonymous Content.
There's just over a year to go until the 2020 presidential election, but the competition to potentially replace Donald Trump in the White House is already stiff.
There's a lot to keep track of, but we're here to help. Here's TheWrap's list of everyone who is running for president so far and who has dropped out.
Joe Biden Democratic Party
Entered Race: April 25, 2019
The former Obama VP was a late entry to the race, formally declaring his run for the presidency on April 25. But he's long been a presumed frontrunner, leading many early polls. This is his third presidential run, and for months he's been telling anyone who'll listen that he'd be the most qualified candidate for the job. He's also already been under scrutiny over criticism about his behavior with women, prompting him to post a video promising he'd be "more mindful and respectful" of a woman's "personal space."
Biden has also been prone to embarrassing slips of the tongue, among them placing the assassinations of RFK and MLK in "the late '70s," mistaking his campaign's text number for a website, waxing nostalgic about his friendships with Senate segregationists, and saying "poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids."
Elizabeth Warren Democratic Party
Entered Race: Feb. 9, 2019
The Massachusetts Senator formally announced her candidacy on Feb. 9 at a rally in her home state, and shortly after followed up with a tweet that read: "I believe in an America of opportunity. My daddy ended up as a janitor, but his little girl got the chance to be a public school teacher, a college professor, a United States Senator and a candidate for President of the United States. #Warren2020."
Bernie Sanders Democratic Party
Entered Race: Feb. 19, 2019
Bernie Sanders, the runner-up in the 2016 contest for the Democratic nomination, has recorded a campaign video in which he says he is running for president in 2020, according to a report in Politico.
Pete Buttigieg Democratic Party
Entered Race: April 14, 2019
The 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana would becomethe first openly gay presidential nominee from a major political party. Buttigieg's platform includes a plan to further empower Black America and economic reform.
Julin Castro Democratic Party
Entered Race: Jan. 12, 2019
The former mayor of San Antonio -- and former Obama cabinet member -- supports immigration reform and eliminating lead poisoning.
Tulsi Gabbard Democratic Party
Entered Race: Jan. 11, 2019
Gabbard, a U.S. Representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district, endorsed Bernie Sanders in 2016, but in 2020 she's all-in on herself. Gabbard is running on immigration and criminal justice reform.
Cory Booker Democratic Party
Entered Race: Feb. 1, 2019
The New Jersey senator and former mayor of Newark formally tossed his name into the presidential hat on Feb. 1, the first day of Black History Month. Booker plans to end mass incarceration if he were to be elected president.
Marianne Williamson Democratic Party
Entered Race: Jan. 28, 2019
The "Healing the Soul of America" author and founder of Project Angel Food announced her candidacy during a political rally at the Saban Theater in Los Angeles on Jan. 28. If elected president, Williamson would be in favor of reparations and "economic justice for women and children."
Andrew Yang Democratic Party
Entered Race: Nov. 6, 2017
The entrepreneur and son of immigrant parents from Taiwan became a contender a year ago, tellingThe New York Timesthat he will advocate for a universal basic income.
John Delaney Democratic Party
Entered Race: July 28, 2017
TheU.S. Representative for Maryland's 6th district declaredback in July 2017. He says he'll "end reckless trade wars and expand trade," "create a universal health care system" and "launch a national AI strategy."
Amy Klobuchar Democratic Party
Entered Race: Feb. 10, 2019
The Minnesota Democrat, first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006, announced her bid on Feb. 10, 2019, saying that she wanted to work for "everyone who wanted their work recognized." Klobuchar's key issues she wants to tackle if elected president include revising voting rights protections and prioritizing cybersecurity.
Michael Bennet Democratic Party
Entered Race: May 2, 2019
The Colorado senator has been a vocal supporter on advancing the field of artificial intelligence and expanding the Child Tax Credit. He didn't qualify for the fourth Democratic debate but he's vowed to keep running.
Wayne Messam Democratic Candidate
Entered Race: March 28, 2019
The mayor of Miramar, Florida, a city near Miami, is a first-generation American who has called for end the filibuster and erasing student debt. He only raised $5 -- five -- during the quarter that ended Sep. 30, but he's still in the race.
Tom Steyer Democratic Party
Entered Race: July 9, 2019
The billionaire and climate change activist entered the race in July, saying in a video "if you think that there's something absolutely critical, try as hard as you can and let the chips fall where they may. And that's exactly what I'm doing. My name's Tom Steyer, and I'm running for president."
Joe Sestak Democratic Party
Entered Race: June 23, 2019
The former Pennsylvania Congressman has a plan for America that includes investing in American manufacturing and strengthening antitrust laws.
Deval Patrick - Democratic Party
Entered Race: Nov. 14, 2019
The former governor of Massachusetts acknowledged the challenge of jumping into the Democratic primary so late in the game. But in his announcement he took a veiled swipe at other candidates, saying the party was torn between "nostalgia" and "our big idea or no way.
Michael Bloomberg - Democratic Party
Entered Race: Nov. 24, 2019
The former mayor of New York is the second billionaire to enter the crowded Democratic field with just one year until the election. Bloomberg plans to fund his own campaign and is reportedly spending $30 million in TV ads to launch his campaign.
Bill Weld Republican Party
Entered Race: April 15, 2019
Weld is a former Governor of Massachusetts who has been on the record about his displeasure of Trump, specifically Trump's desire to be more of a "king than a president."
Joe Walsh Republican Party
Entered Race: Aug. 25, 2019
The former congressman from Illinois turned conservative talk show host announced in August 2019 that he would enter the GOP primaries to challenge President Trump. "I'm running because he's unfit; somebody needs to step up and there needs to be an alternative. The country is sick of this guy's tantrum -- he's a child," he told ABC News.
Seth Moulton Democratic Party
Entered Race: April 22, 2019
Dropped Out: August 23, 2019
The Massachusetts congressman and Iraq War veteran ended his campaign for president in a speech to the DNC in San Fransisco. I think its evident that this is now a three-way race between Biden, Warren and Sanders, and really its a debate about how far left the party should go, Mr. Moulton told the New York Times.
Eric Swalwell
Entered Race: April 8, 2019 Dropped Out: July 8, 2019
The California congressman wrote in a statement on his campaign's website about his decision to bow out of the 2020 presidential race, "Ill never forget the people I met and lessons I learned while travelling [sic] around our great nation especially in the communities most affected by gun violence."
John Hickenlooper
Entered Race: March 4, 2019 Dropped Out: Aug. 15, 2019
The former Colorado governor supported stricter gun control laws and free trade.
Jay Inslee Democratic Party
Entered Race: March 1, 2019 Dropped Out: Aug. 21, 2019
The Governor of Washington ran on a platform focused on climate change, proposing a "100% Clean Energy for America Plan" that would see emissions drop to zero by 2035.
He announced he was dropping out of the race during an appearance on "The Rachel Maddow Show."
"It's become clear that I'm not going to be carrying the ball," Inslee told Maddow. "I'm not going to be the President, I'm withdrawing tonight from the race."
Inslee added that he's optimistic that climate change will be a major part of the Democratic party's priorities.
Kirsten Gillibrand - Democratic Party
Entered Race: Jan. 15, 2019
Dropped Out: Aug. 28, 2019
The senator from New York announced her bid Tuesday, Jan. 15 on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert." Gillibrand, whose campaign slogan is "Brave Wins," supported paid family leave and protecting women's rights.
On August 28, 2019, she announced her withdrawal. "To our supporters: Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Now, let's go beat Donald Trump and win back the Senate," she tweeted.
Howard Schultz Independent
Dropped Out: Sept. 6, 2019
In January the former Starbucks CEO expressed initial interest in running. In August, Schultz reportedly suspended his campaigning until after Labor Day, citing medical issues. In September, Schultz cited those issues and more in a letter on his website as reasons he had to take himself out of the running.
"My belief in the need to reform our two-party system has not wavered, but I have concluded that an independent campaign for the White House is not how I can best serve our country at this time," he wrote.
Schultz is a co-founder of the venture capital firm Maveron, which is an investor in TheWrap.
Bill De Blasio Democratic Party
Entered Race: May 16, 2019
Dropped Out: Sept. 20, 2019
The New York City mayor was looking for more taxes for the wealthy and regulating "gig jobs" under his proposed Universal Labor Standards.
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