Sean Penn will write and direct a movie tied to the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot, with Bradley Cooper eyeing lead role

Sean Penn is set to write and direct an untitled Warner Bros. film tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, with Bradley Cooper in talks to play the lead role.

The project is still in development, and Cooper has not finalized a deal to star. Warner Bros. is reportedly negotiating to acquire the film, which is being developed by Penn’s company, Projected Picture Works.

What the film is about

Published reports describe the movie as based on a real person who was present during the riot. AP said the story centers on a police officer’s experience during the attack, while other reports said the project is framed around an unexpected friendship rather than a straight procedural about the riot.

That distinction matters because the available reporting suggests Penn is not making a conventional Jan. 6 reenactment. Instead, the film appears to use the event as the backdrop for a character-driven drama.

What is confirmed

AP reported on Tuesday that Penn will write and direct the film and that Cooper is in talks. Entertainment Weekly later reported that Warner Bros. is developing the project and that production is expected to begin in mid-2027.

Penn also attended the 2022 House hearings on the Capitol attack as an observer, according to AP.

What remains unsettled

Key details are still unconfirmed, including Cooper’s casting, the identity of the real-life subject at the center of the story and Warner Bros.’ final financing terms.

Page Six reported a roughly $20 million negative-pickup structure, but that figure has not been confirmed by AP or other outlets. The reported budget and production plan could still change before the film moves forward.