Focus Features announced today that their buzzy journalism drama Kill the Messenger, which features a talented ensemble cast led by two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker, The Town), has been set for a limited theatrical release beginning on October 10, with expansions occurring over the following two weekends.
The drama tells the true story of Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Gary Webb (Renner), who was targeted by a brutal smear campaign when, in the late 1990s, he broke a huge story about the CIA’s hand in smuggling cocaine into the U.S. in order to secretly fund the Nicauraguan Contras.
Renner is best known to the general public for his action hero roles, with major parts in the Bourne franchise, The Avengers and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, but his acting gigs over the past few months have signified a clear desire to return to more weighty projects. His last two films, romantic drama The Immigrant and crime caper American Hustle, were both met with overwhelming praise and, given its tremendous cast, there’s no reason to suspect that Kill the Messenger will be any different.
The film, directed by Michael Cuesta (Showtime’s Homeland) and written by Peter Landesman (Parkland), also stars Ray Liotta, Barry Pepper, Josh Close, Rosemarie DeWitt, Andy Garcia, Lucas Hedges, Tim Blake Nelson, Robert Patrick, Oliver Platt, Michael Sheen, Paz Vega, Michael Kenneth Williams and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. That’s a hugely promising (as well as just plain huge) cast for Kill the Messenger, and I couldn’t be more excited to see all of the actors bring to life the real individuals involved in such a gripping true story.
While on Homeland, Cuesta directed some of the show’s most taut and exhilarating installments, including the pilot, the nail-biting turning point episode “The Weekend” and season one finale “Marine One.” There’s a high probability that he’ll be able to create equally agonizing levels of suspense for Kill the Messenger, especially with the help of his fine cast, which is just one more reason to be excited for this project.
Tell us, are you interested in checking out Kill the Messenger?
