While we may never see a super-spy like James Bond in our lifetime, we do have the likes of former CIA and NSA employee Edward Snowden, who leaked classified documents to a variety of media sources in May 2013, which got him charged with espionage by the U.S. Department of Justice. Instead of facing the charges, Snowden exiled himself to Russia, where he’s been living ever since.
Journalist Glenn Greenwald of The Guardian was the first to report on the secrets contained in Snowden’s leaked documents, for which he won a Pulitzer Prize, and now it’s being reported that Sony Pictures Entertainment has optioned the film rights to Greenwald’s book “No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State with none other than Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions, the team responsible for keeping the James Bond franchise alive and thrive, on board as producers.
The book, released worldwide just yesterday by Metropolitan Books, follows Greenwald’s attempts to work with Snowden to break stories about the U.S. government’s intelligence-gathering operations, particularly by the NSA, which many felt intruded on the privacy of American citizens.
Columbia Pictures President Doug Belgrad was quoted in the press release on the potential for the film to keep the conversation going:
Edward Snowdens explosive revelations have raised important questions about the role of government in protecting its citizens and the balance between national security and personal freedom. We are extremely proud that Michael, Barbara and Glenn chose Sony to bring this riveting story to the big screen, and believe that Glenns account of this incredible international event will make for a gripping and unforgettable film.
