Netflix has released the official trailer forThe Trial of the Chicago 7, which is set to premiere on the streamer in mid-October.Trial of the Chicago 7is the sophomore feature directorial effort fromAaron Sorkin, who, as one might suspect, also wrote the script. Netflixacquired Sorkin’s latest from Paramountover the summer and marks one of the buzziest releases for the streaming giant in 2020.
Any questions around whether or not Netflix is strategizing to putThe Trial of the Chicago 7in this year’s Oscars race are answered with the newest trailer. The awards season positioning here really is next-level. The trailer begins with activist Tom Hayden (played byEddie Redmayne) standing at the podium during a news conference clearly stating his intention to organize with other key figures to protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Cut to prosecutor Richard Schultz (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) getting his marching orders from the Attorney General to take Hayden and several other organizers — including Bobby Seale (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), Jerry Rubin (Jeremy Strong), and Abbie Hoffman (Sacha Baron Cohen) — to trial for their actions at the DNC.
In true Sorkin fashion, the trailer promises a great many moments filled with gravitas, as well as some of the director/writer’s trademark political opinions turned into snappy dialogue. It also looks like every member of theTrial of the Chicago 7cast will get their moment in the spotlight, which means the conversation around the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor categories for this year’s Oscar race are about to get very interesting. The trailer makes no effort to hide its aspirations to tap into the current political moment with its story. But, given Sorkin’s hit-or-miss track record, I have to admit I’m partially curious and partially nervous as to how well the movie will be executed. Buckle up, folks,The Trial of the Chicago 7is coming in hot.
The Trial of the Chicago 7debuts on Netflix on October 16. You can watch the official trailer below. For more, here are the release dates for even moreNetflix movies slated to arrivein 2020.
Here’s the official synopsis forThe Trial of the Chicago 7:
What was intended to be a peaceful protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention turned into a violent clash with police and the National Guard. The organizers of the protest—including Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden and Bobby Seale—were charged with conspiracy to incite a riot and the trial that followed was one of the most notorious in history.
Allie Gemmill is the Weekend Contributing Editor for Collider. You can follow them on Twitter@_matineeidle.
