The story of how fugitive Edward Snowden leaked classified documents on state surveillance is to be made into a film by Oscar-winning director, Oliver Stone.
Stone, 67, known for tackling controversial topics with movies including Platoon, Born On The Fourth Of July, and Nixon, will base his film on The Snowden Files, the book about the scandal by British journalist Luke Harding.
It will tell the story of the American defence contractor who stole hundreds of thousands of documents exposing spying by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and other state spy agencies, including Britain’s GCHQ.
- Snowden, 30, leaked documents from state spy agencies including GCHQ
- Former intelligence worker was accused of putting people’s lives at risk
- After handing over classified papers to journalists, he fled the US to Russia
- Snowden is wanted on spy charges which are punishable by 30 years’ jail
- Stone, director of Platoon, Nixon, and Born On The Fourth Of July, is a fan
- British and US spy chiefs have condemned him, but Stone says ‘He’s a hero’
NSA executive Rick Ledgett, who assessed the damage done by Snowden’s leaks, said the stolen files contained ‘the keys to the kingdom’, while MI5 director Andrew Parker called it ‘a gift to terrorists’.
Wanted by US authorities on spy charges punishable by 30 years in prison, Snowden went on the run, and has now sought temporary asylum in Russia.
Stone, who will direct the film with Moritz Borman as producer, said: ‘This is one of the greatest stories of our time.’