Emilia Jones will shine Winner, which Variety describes it as a “new take on the traditional whistleblower thriller.” Jones plays Reality Winner, a young but brilliant Texas misfit who tests her morals while serving as a contractor in the United States Air Force and the NSA. Ultimately, she will leak an intelligence report on Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
“I hope Reality’s story will inspire others to express their views and defend their beliefs at all costs. I’m excited to be working with this team of artists and activists to bring this film to life,” said director Susanna Fogel.
Based on a true story, Winner will be arrested in the film for what she did. Sentenced to five and a half years behind bars, Winner received the longest sentence for someone charged under the Espionage Act. And according to Fogel, she’s the perfect heroine for a film about the ideas of personal power, morality and finding your voice.
“She’s a real individual: she speaks many languages, she loves her guns, she could destroy you on Twitter, and her obsession with Pikachu is unparalleled. It is clear that she is the perfect spokesperson for a generation of people who are unique and tired of feeling powerless. And there’s no one more perfect to play her than Emilia Jones, one of the hottest young actresses working today.”
You may recognize Jones from her work in the Academy Award-winning film code, where she plays the only hearing person in a deaf fishing family. You may also know her from Netflix’s Lock & Key, based on the popular comic book series of the same name by Joe Hill. She plays one of three siblings who move to a new home and discover these magical keys that grant them extraordinary abilities.
Several well-known actors will join Jones in the cast. As Connie Britton, whose credits include: American horror story and Nashville, Winner’s mother will play. Zach Galifianakis, known for his work on The hangover trilogy, will play Reality’s father, Danny Rameriez, who recently appeared in Top Gun: Maverick, will Winner’s boyfriend. Kathryn Newton, one of the newest actors to join the MCU as a superhero, will play her sister.
The people who make the winner behind the camera
“As a filmmaker, I strive to tell stories that question the world we live in and the systems broken within it. But in a fun way.”
Fogel was a screenwriter on smart book, starring Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever. She also co-wrote the screenplay and directed The spy who dumped me, starring Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon. For Winter, Fogel has teamed up with screenwriter Kerry Howley, who in 2017 wrote the New York Magazine article that inspired the film.
ShivHans Pictures and 1Community will co-finance the film. Fogel will co-produce with Shivani Rawat and Julie Goldstein on behalf of ShivHans Pictures, alongside Scott Budnick and Ameet Shukla on behalf of 1Community. Executive producers on Winner include Dani Melia, Peter Saraf, Daniel Bekerman, Connor Flanagan and Big Beach Films. rawat said:
“When we first read this powerful script, we knew we wanted to help tell the story of Reality Winner. I’ve always been a fan of Susanna Fogel and it’s something we at ShivHans strive to work with this caliber of talent to tell a feminine story. We look forward to working with our friends at 1Community to bring this story to a wider audience.”
Budnick added:
“Our company’s mission is to find bold new perspectives on the most pressing issues of our time, and nothing is more urgent than defending the ideals of democracy. Reality Winner’s story is fascinating, brave and timely. We are excited to join our partners ShivHans Pictures and couldn’t be more excited about Susanna Fogel’s fresh and comedic approach to bringing this story to the screen.”