Samuel Goldwyn Films Releases 'Trumbo'

Samuel Goldwyn Films and Red Envelope Entertainment - NetFlix's original content division - announced today that the two companies have jointly acquired Peter Askin's Trumbo, a unique, star-studded film about Oscar-winning screenwriter Dalton Trumbo and his heroic journey from Hollywood royalty to blacklisted writer to Academy Award winner. 

Set against the backdrop of tremendous political unrest, audiences will be given a first hand, emotional account of how this turmoil affected one of Hollywood's most prolific writers.  A late spring 2008 release date has been slated.

"Based on the play Trumbo by his son Christopher, the film features readings of some of Trumbo's extraordinary letters performed by an A list cast, interlaced with period and contemporary interviews, and, rare video shot by his family and friends," explain press notes. These actors include: Joan Allen, Brian Dennehy, Michael Douglas, Paul Giamatti, Nathan Lane, Josh Lucas, Liam Neeson, David Straithairn, and Donald Sutherland. Dennehy, Giamatti and Lane all performed in the play.

Trumbo was one of Hollywood's highest paid screenwriters in the 1940s when he wrote Kitty Foyle (among several others) for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. After he was blacklisted in 1947, he wrote several scripts under pseudonyms including The Brave One (for which he won an Academy Award under the name Robert Rich), Roman Holiday, Exodus and Spartacus before he was re-instated into the Writers Guild in 1960. 

Having premiered to rave reviews in Toronto, Trumbo illustrates his unerring belief in the First Amendment that ultimately allowed him to fight back after being blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).

The film was directed by Peter Askin (Company Man) and produced by Safehouse's Will Battersby and Tory Tunnell and Filbert Steps' Alan Klingenstein and David Viola.  Jim Kohlberg was the executive producer.

The deal was negotiated by Samuel Goldywn Films' Vice President of Acquisitions Peter Goldwyn and Copland with Andrew Hurwitz of Schreck Rose Dapello Adams & Hurwitz and Cassian Elwes, William Morris Independent on behalf of the filmmakers. 

Dalton Trumbo