James Bond producers to make Edward Snowden movie

The producers behind the James Bond franchise will make a movie about Edward Snowden and his decision to leak top-secret U.S. government secrets. Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions are working with Sony, which has optioned the film rights to Glenn Greenwald’s new book, No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State.

“Edward Snowden’s explosive revelations have raised important questions about the role of government in protecting its citizens and the balance between national security and personal freedom,” said Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures. “We are extremely proud that Michael, Barbara, and Glenn chose Sony to bring this riveting story to the big screen, and believe that Glenn’s account of this incredible international event will make for a gripping and unforgettable film.”

While working for the London Guardian newspaper, Greenwald worked with Snowden to expose the U.S. government’s intrusive intelligence gathering operations, journalism that earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. “Growing up, I was heavily influenced by political films, and am excited about the opportunity to be part of a political film that will resonate with today’s moviegoers,” said Greenwald.

Snowden, a former CIA and NSA employee who still worked in intelligence mostly as a consultant in 2013, leaked more than a million U.S. government files that exposed its far-reaching intelligence gathering methods on foreign leaders and American citizens. He fled the country, was charged with espionage, and currently resides in an undisclosed location in Russia.

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