Bradley Cooper (51) is reportedly taking on the lead role in a new film project by Sean Penn (65) that deals with the storming of the Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021. According to the industry magazine "Deadline", Penn is directing and also writing the screenplay. According to the report, filming is scheduled for mid-2027. They are currently in talks, but nothing has been signed yet.
Content-wise, the film is based on the experiences of a real police officer who was on duty during the riots. The production is being made with the consent of the person involved, whose identity has not yet been made public.
Not a Fan of Donald Trump
Penn, known for his political statements, had previously attended a public hearing of the special committee in the U.S. House of Representatives that investigated the events surrounding the deadly insurrection of 2021. There he stated that he appeared as an "ordinary citizen" to see whether justice would be served. During the session, he sat next to several police officers who had defended the Capitol.
The Oscar winner is also known as a critic of U.S. President Donald Trump (80). In an article for "Time" magazine, he sharply attacked Trump and called him an "enemy of humanity" as well as an "enemy of the state". The background was Trump's statements about countries like Haiti, which he had referred to as "Shithole Countries".
Clip Went Viral
The collaboration between Cooper and Penn is more than just a new partnership - it closes a decades-long circle. Both had supporting roles in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza" from 2021, but did not have any scenes together.
But their connection goes back even further: In a 1999 episode of "Inside the Actors Studio", Cooper, then only 24 years old and still a second-year acting student, was in the audience and asked Sean Penn a question about acting. The scene later went viral on the internet.
Sean Penn won his third Oscar at this year's Academy Awards. He was honored for his performance in the film "One Battle After Another" in the "Best Supporting Actor" category.
