It seemed inevitable that Emilia Jones’ status would soar as the star of this year’s improbable Best Picture winner, CODA; in fact, Jones has scored one of her most high-profile roles yet. A darkly comic look at the lives and times of whistleblower Reality Winner, Winner is the newest film from filmmaker Susanna Fogel (The Spy Who Dumped Me). The actress is in the lead role. The director and star are reuniting for the production, which is now in progress. On the aforementioned Cat Person, they previously worked together.
Winner follows its eponymous heroine, a brilliant, involved young misfit from Texas who finds her morality tested throughout her tenure in the US Air Force and eventual employment as an NSA contractor, according to a report from Deadline. From there, this idealistic lady finds herself being attacked for upholding her beliefs, especially after she releases private national material in an effort to reveal the nation’s top-secret intelligence. In particular, Winner was sentenced to five and a half years in jail for disclosing Russia’s intervention in the 2016 presidential election.
This is still the heaviest term ever imposed on a person prosecuted under the Espionage Act for disclosing a government publication. The upcoming coming-of-age story, which is based on Kerry Howley’s 2017 New York Magazine feature “Who Is Reality Winner?” is referred to as a “fresh take on the traditional whistleblower thriller,” with what one might assume is a modern, more satirical lens as opposed to the usual, more intense stories of this ilk that we have seen plenty of times before. Though the writer-director has made a career out of creating character-focused dramedies that mix genres and tones, it will be interesting to watch how Fogel extracts comedy from this kind of material, especially as it relates to Winner’s portrayal.
Fogel and Howley co-wrote Winner’s adapted script in addition to directing this new movie. The winner will also showcase the skills of Connie Britton and Zach Galifianakis as Reality’s mother and father, in addition to Jones serving as the film’s star. Additionally, Danny Ramirez will portray the lover of the title character, while Kathryn Newton has been cast as Reality’s sister. In the next months, we should continue to anticipate hearing more casting news, especially given that filming is now taking place.
In relation to this ongoing endeavour, Fogel issued the following statement: As a filmmaker, I try to present tales that question the society we live in and the flawed institutions inside it. but in a pleasant way. The ideal leading lady for a movie that explores the concepts of morality, finding your voice, and personal strength is Reality Winner. She is a real person who is multilingual, passionate about firearms, capable of obliterating you on Twitter, and unrivalled in her Pikachu mania. She is undoubtedly the ideal spokesperson for a generation of individuals who are distinctive and sick of feeling helpless. And Emilia Jones, one of the most intriguing young actors working now, is the ideal choice to play her. I’m hoping that Reality’s story will encourage people to stand up for what they believe in no matter the cost. I’m ecstatic to collaborate with this group of activists and artists to make this movie a reality.
Along with Scott Budnick & Ameet Shukla of 1Community, Amanda Phillips, Shivani Rawat, & Julie Goldstein of ShivHans Pictures serve as producers alongside Fogel. A movie like this is difficult to predict, but it’s one to watch as it develops—especially since Jones has already demonstrated her acting prowess on several occasions. Not just in CODA, but also in a few other Netflix productions, such as Locke & Key, Brimstone, and High-Rise, to mention a few. This exciting initiative shouldn’t end up being an exception, and we’ll keep you informed of any new information as it becomes available.