Photo Credit:Getty Images
Fresh off winning his third Academy Award for One Battle After Another, Sean Penn is preparing to return to the director’s chair with what is being described as one of his most personal and ambitious projects yet. The acclaimed filmmaker has quietly been developing an untitled movie centered on the early life of a police officer who would later become caught up in the January 6 Capitol riots.
Penn has written the screenplay and is set to direct the film, while five time Oscar nominated actor Bradley Cooper is currently in talks to take on the lead role. Although discussions are ongoing, no official deal has been finalized. The project will reunite Penn with Warner Bros following their collaboration on One Battle After Another, with the studio acquiring the film in a negative pickup agreement.
Penn will also produce the movie alongside John Ira Palmer and John Wildermuth under their Projected Picture Works banner. The Warner Bros agreement was negotiated by CAA Media Finance on behalf of the producers. Production is currently expected to begin in mid 2027, largely due to Cooper’s existing commitment to the next Oceans film.
The upcoming feature has been described as an unexpected story about friendship rather than simply a recreation of the events of January 6. While the film is inspired by the real life story of a police officer involved in the Capitol attack, the identity of the subject remains undisclosed. Reports indicate that the individual has given their support to the project, though filmmakers are keeping their identity confidential for now.
Sources say the movie will focus primarily on the officer’s personal journey before the Capitol attack, exploring the experiences that shaped him into a figure many Americans would later view as a hero. Although the story touches on one of the most politically divisive events in recent American history, it is not intended to be solely about the Capitol riots.
Penn’s interest in the subject is unsurprising given his long standing political engagement. The actor and filmmaker previously attended a public hearing of the House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection, stating that he wanted to observe as an ordinary citizen and see whether justice would be served. During the hearing he was seen speaking with several law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol, including former Washington DC police officer Michael Fanone.
Speculation has emerged that Fanone could be the inspiration behind the film, particularly because of his remarkable life story and his physical resemblance to Bradley Cooper. However, sources have not confirmed whether Fanone is the actual subject. Regardless of the identity, the project offers rich material for Penn’s character driven storytelling and could provide Cooper with another emotionally complex role.
The film also marks another connection between Penn and Cooper, who previously appeared together in Licorice Pizza. Penn has also publicly praised Cooper’s work in the past, notably calling A Star Is Born “a triumph” in a widely discussed opinion piece. With Warner Bros backing the project and an acclaimed creative team attached, the untitled film is already generating significant attention despite still being in the early stages of development.
