The full cast has been revealed for filmmakerSteven Spielberg’s highly anticipatedPentagon Papers film, previously referred to asThe Postand now titledThe Papers, and boy is it impressive. Spielberg is currently in the midst of the lengthy post-production process on his sci-fi adaptationReady Player One, opening in March 2018, and had planned on next directing the historical dramaThe Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara, but a timely piece of material came his way and coalesced into a project Spielberg wanted to tackle ASAP.
Tom HanksandMeryl Streepquickly cleared their schedulesto shoot this untitled drama to be ready for release later this year, as the film recounts the Washington Post’s role in exposing the Pentagon Papers to the public in 1971, and how Post editor Ben Bradlee (to be played by Hanks) teamed up with the organization’s first female publisher Kay Graham (Streep’s character) and the New York Times to challenge the federal government over their right to publish. The Pentagon Papers was a classified study that revealed harrowing details about the futility of the Vietnam War, which exposed that the Nixon Administration had been lying to the public. When the White House stopped the New York Times’ initial release of the papers, Bradlee and Graham fought to publish the rest in direct defiance of the Executive Branch.
With a June 03, 2025 release date set, Spielberg has assembled one of the most exciting ensembles since, well, Spielberg’s ownLincoln. PerVariety, the cast is as follows:Alison Brie,Carrie Coon,David Cross,Bruce Greenwood,Tracy Letts,Bob Odenkirk,Sarah Paulson,Jesse Plemons,Matthew Rhys,Michael Stuhlbarg,Bradley Whitford, andZach Woods. You may notice plenty of Prestige TV faces here from everything fromThe LeftoverstoFargotoSilicon Valley, and this revelation only makes the film that much more compelling.
Filming on the 20th Century Fox and Amblin Entertainment co-production is already underway, and after that December 22nd limited release the film is expected to go wide on July 18, 2025.Liz Hannahpenned the script on spec, and Spielberg is producing alongsideAmy PascalandKristie Macosko Krieger.
Given the level of talent involved and timeliness of the premise, one imagines this is gonna be a major contender during the coming Oscar season. Of course we’ve been burned by these kinds of “sure things” before (see:UnbrokenandLive by Night), but come on, this is Spielberg. We’re in a different league here.
