StudioCanal has debuted the stark new poster for Stephen Frears’ upcoming biopic, The Program, which will chart the meteoric rise and equally crushing fall of Tour de France champion, Lance Armstrong.
Arriving via Empire Magazine, the one-sheet is a moody teaser for Frears’ drama, who is no stranger to depicting real-life figures after working on the likes of the award-winning The Queen with Helen Mirren, not to mention 2013’s acclaimed drama Philomena. For The Program, however, the filmmaker is delving into a topic that is both controversial and quite contemporary, after it was revealed that Armstrong was guilty of doping, effectively bringing his once golden, untainted reputation crashing down overnight.
In the title role as the shamed cyclist is Ben Foster, while Chris O’ Dowd is on board to play Irish journalist David Walsh. Rounding out the cast are Dustin Hoffman, Guillaume Canet and Jesse Plemons.
What separates The Program from biopics of its ilk is the depth of Armstrong as a character. Naturally, Foster will be taking on a loaded public figure in his interpretation, but what with the struggles with cancer and triumph on the circuit – even if it was gained unnaturally – this is a career ripe for a cinematic adaptation, and it’ll be fascinating to see how Frears balances the moral grey areas of Armstrong’s psyche.
The Program races into UK screens on October 16. We’ll be sure to update you when we have word of the film’s Stateside release. Until then, let us know what you make of the hot off the circuit poster via the comments.
