In 1940s Hollywood, few screenwriters could hold a candle to the blistering success and aura of one Dalton Trumbo, who rose to the top of the pack with his brilliant work, only for it all to come crushing down when a wave of social paranoia washed over the United States of A. Left to fight against the Powers That Be for recognition as a genuine writer and free American citizen, the tragic tale is simply ripe for tapping, and it’s small wonder why the hero-to-zero arc hasn’t flirted with the silver screen in the past.
Low and behold, director Jay Roach is about to rectify that later this year with Trumbo, a dramatic biopic of the shunned screenwriter that places Breaking Bad alum Bryan Cranston behind the typewriter. Dealing with themes of fear-mongering and media scapegoats, it’s hardly surprising that Roach’s drama has emerged as one of the dark horses going into this year’s awards race, and today’s trailer only ramps up our excitement to see Cranston’s turn as the oppressed scribe.
Cast out from Tinsel Town, it was only after Trumbo was shunned for being a communist that he operated under a pseudonym, even managing to script the likes of Roman Holiday, The Brave One and Spartacus.
Rounding out the film’s impressive cast list are Diane Lane, Elle Fanning, Helen Mirren, John Goodman, Louis CK, Michael Stuhlbarg and David James Elliott.
Jay Roach’s Trumbo opens on November 6, but in the meantime, you can check out our own verdict of the political drama from TIFF 2015.
The successful career of 1940s screenwriter Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston) comes to a crushing end when he and other Hollywood figures are blacklisted for their political beliefs. TRUMBO (directed by Jay Roach) tells the story of his fight against the U.S. government and studio bosses in a war over words and freedom, which entangled everyone in Hollywood from Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren) and John Wayne to Kirk Douglas and Otto Preminger.
