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Edward Snowden Controversy Hits The Big Screen: Trailer For ‘Snowden’ Drops Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt [Video]

By Niki Cruz
Published on: 08:06 PST, Jun 30, 2015

The first look at Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Edward Snowden has finally arrived. While we don’t actually see Gordon-Levitt as Snowden in this teaser, the trailer left a lasting impression, just as Snowden has on the American people. The film, which is directed by heralded director Oliver Stone, may very well be a serious Oscar contender. Simply titled Snowden, it’s sure to be a hot button for many reasons.

People are still talking and writing about Edward Snowden, who, in 2013, was charged with two counts of violating the Espionage Act. As an NSA contractor, he leaked classified information, which revealed that the NSA was surveilling citizens on a global scale. In an interview, Snowden said, “They are intent on making every conversation and every form of behaviour in the world known to them.”

These days, Snowden, who is currently seeking asylum in Russia, is known as a hero, a traitor, a whistleblower, and a patriot — depending on how you look at his actions. At the time, he said, “The government has granted itself power it is not entitled to. There is no public oversight. The result is people like myself have the latitude to go further than they are allowed to.”

As for Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s portrayal of Snowden, that’s still yet to be seen. That said, we’ve seen how Levitt will look in still form.

The trailer for the Snowden film really puts a spotlight on the polarizing view Edward Snowden’s name invokes in America. The trailer includes a cover of the song “This Little Light of Mine,” as the camera zooms in on an upside down flag. The words “One nation, under surveillance, for liberty and JUSTICE FOR ALL” are tagged on to the white stripes of the flag.

The film is based on the books The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World’s Most Wanted Man by Luke Harding, and Time of the Octopus by Anatoly Kucherena. In addition to Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Snowden, Nicolas Cage will play a senior intelligence official. The film co-stars Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Tom Wilkinson, and Rhys Ifans.

Here’s a few reactions the trailer has received.

[Image via Open Road Films]

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