'An unexpected story of friendship': Sean Penn to direct police officer drama on January 6 riots

Sean Penn has signed a deal with Warner Bros. to direct a film he's scripted about the deadly attack on the US Capitol on January 6 in 2021. Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn is to helm a new movie he's written about the January 6 riots on the US Capitol, according to Warner Bros. Penn, who received his third Academy Award for his role in One Battle After Another will direct the as-yet untitled drama which has been described as an "unexpected story about friendship", with production due to begin in mid-2027. It's thought the story will centre on a police officer called out as the deadly events unfolded in Washington, D.C but spokespersons for Penn and Warner Bros have only confirmed it's based on a real person. When Penn attended the 2022 hearings of the House Select Committee investigating the attack, he sat between Metropolitan Police officers Michael Fanone and Daniel Hodges, both of whom responded to the attack. Fanone testified that he rushed to the scene and was “grabbed, beaten, tased, all while being called a traitor to my country.” The assault, which stopped only when he said he had children, caused him to have a heart attack. Hodges also testified about his harrowing experience. At the hearings, Penn said he was attending as “just another citizen” to observe and see if justice would be served. Police story Bradley Cooper is reportedly in talks to feature, although no deal has been reached. The movie's announcement comes just days after the U.S. Justice Department said it will not contest Paramount Skydance's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The €95 billion deal, agreed to in February, will put the Warner Bros. film studio under the control of David Ellison, Paramount’s chief executive. Ellison and his father, the Oracle founder Larry Ellison, have strong ties to President Donald Trump. On Sunday, Ellison attended the Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House which was held on the president's 80th birthday and was part of ongoing Freedom 250 events to celebrate anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.