The American Film Institute announced this afternoon that Clint Eastwood’s “Richard Jewell” will make its world premiere at the 2019 AFI Fest next month. The Warner Bros. release will be featured in a gala presentation on Wednesday, Novemeber 20. The late addition to the year-end release schedule and crowded awards season scrum.
WATCH: Clint Eastwood’s “Richard Jewel” tackles “fake news” in new trailer
In a statement from AFI, the institute’s president and CEO, Bob “always available for a photo op” Gazzale, noted, “Clint Eastwood is an American icon. It is an honor for AFI to premiere this next chapter in his storied career – one that continues to enrich the nation’s cultural legacy with undeniable impact.”
This is the third film from the prolific filmmakers to debut at AFI after 2011’s “J. Edgar” and 2014’s “American Sniper,” which was a “surprise” sneak.
“Richard Jewell” is based on the true story of a the security guard who reported finding a bomb on the grounds of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. After initially being praised as a hero, he becomes the FBI’s number one suspect and has to hire an “anti-establishment” attorney to help clear his name. Paul Walter Hauser (“I, Tonya”) plays Jewell while the cast is rounded out by Sam Rockwell, as his legal counsel, as well as Kathy Bates, Jon Hamm and Olivia Wilde.
The official synopsis describes the film as noting “what happens when what is reported as fact obscures the truth.” If that sounds like Eastwood, who infamously used an empty chair at a speech at the 2012 Republican National Convention, is using Jewell’s real life circumstance to make a point about “Fake News” you deseve a gold star. But, wait, there’s a twist. The film’s screenplay is from Billy Ray (“State of Play,” “Captain Phillips,” “Gemini Man”), a well known progressive Democract in Hollywood circles. And the same could be said for Rockwell, Bates, Hamm and, most notably, Wilde. Could this not be the conservative play that some industry writers think it is? And yes, we’re looking at you Deadline (we know you love those Drudge Report links for traffic).
Eastwood, of cousre, is an awards season legend. He’s won four Academy Awards including two for Best Picture. He’s also a rare director who has had five of his films nominated for Oscar’s top honor including 4 over the past 15 years. The lack of a frontrunner so far this season has some wanting to jump on the chance that Eastwood is going to “save the day” with a consensus Best Picture pick. Granted, that’s possible, but our guess is that “Jewell” is more of an actor play and, possibly, a fringe Best Picture nominee. Warner Bros. already has a lot riding on its monster hit “Joker” and prospects for Destin Daniel Cretton’s “Just Mercy.”
Academy members and audiences will get to decide for themselves with “Richard Jewell” opens in theaters on Dec. 13.