Sean Penn to Direct Film on Capitol Riot Police Officer

Sean Penn is set to direct a new film about a police officer present at the January 6 Capitol riot in 2021. Warner Bros. announced the project recently, noting that while the film is currently untitled, it will be directed from Penn’s own script.

Bradley Cooper is in negotiations to star in the film, though an agreement has not been reached yet. Representatives for Penn and Warner Bros. have not disclosed details about the film’s main character but confirmed that they are based on a real person.

Penn witnessed the 2022 hearings of the House Select Committee investigating the attack on the Capitol. During the sessions, he was seated between Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police officers Michael Fanone and Daniel Hodges, who both testified about their experiences during the riot.

Fanone testified that he responded to the scene and faced intense violence, being ‘grabbed, beaten, tased, all while being called a traitor to my country.’ He shared that the assault only stopped when he mentioned having children. This attack resulted in Fanone suffering a heart attack.

Similarly, Hodges shared his own distressing account of the events. Despite the harrowing experiences detailed, the film is described as exploring ‘an unexpected friendship.’ Production is expected to commence in mid-2027.

The announcement of this film comes on the heels of news regarding the U.S. Justice Department’s decision not to oppose Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery for $111 billion. This acquisition, agreed upon in February, places the Warner Bros. film studio under David Ellison’s leadership, with connections to former President Donald Trump.

Sean Penn received critical acclaim for his work in ‘One Battle After Another,’ which won best picture at the Academy Awards. His role as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw earned him a third Oscar, although he did not attend the ceremony, choosing instead to visit Ukraine.