As long as there are politics running our world, there will always be political thrillers to hold up a magnifying glass to those involved. The constant battle between governments and the press has become a well-worn tradition over the years in cinema, stretching as far back as All the President’s Men back in 1976. With new wars, conflicts, and conspiracies constantly rearing their heads, these issues become more and more relevant. The upcoming thriller Official Secrets seeks to take aim at one of these conspiracies by following the story of a British intelligence agent who is imprisoned when she leaks classified information to the press in 2003.
Official Secrets is still in the very early stages of development and as such not much information has come forward. However, THR has reported new updates regarding the film’s star-studded cast list. Headlining the affair is Harrison Ford himself as a CIA agent, but actors Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Dormer, Paul Bettany, and Martin Freeman will join him. Let’s take a closer look at these actors and their roles in the film.
Anthony Hopkins
Hannibal Lecter himself; Anthony Hopkins has been cast in Official Secrets as a retired U.K General who seemingly sides with Ford's character and supports the imprisonment of Katharine Gun for leaking state secrets. One of the most legendary actors on the cast, Hopkins has appeared in numerous iconic roles such as the aforementioned Hannibal, Zorro, and even Alfred Hitchcock. Despite his advanced age, the Academy Award winning actor has remained busy in recent years, with his most widely recognized role being Thor’s father Odin in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Natalie Dormer
Natalie Dormer has kept herself busy over the last few years. Aside from her roles on The Tudors and Game of Thrones, she has also appeared in the Hunger Games franchise as well as the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Captain America: The First Avenger. This past month saw her in one of her first leading roles as twin sisters Sara and Jess in the horror film The Forest. Dormer has been cast in Official Secrets as central character Katharine Gun, a British intelligence officer arrested for leaking classified documents to the press.
Paul Bettany
A character actor with an incredibly long resume, Paul Bettany has appeared in numerous films across numerous genres – ranging from A Beautiful Mind to A Knight’s Tale, to Legion. His most recent mainstream work is as AI construct Jarvis and superhero The Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – a role which he will continue into this summer’s Captain America: Civil War. In Official Secrets, Bettany plays Martin Bright, a British reporter for the London Observer to whom Katharine Gun leaks classified intelligence.
Martin Freeman
Rounding out the film’s cast is Martin Freeman. A well-known British actor, Freeman has appeared in numerous beloved franchises such as Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit films, as well as BBC’s Sherlock alongside Benedict Cumberbatch. In addition to those series, he will soon join the Marvel Cinematic Universe during the events of Captain America: Civil War – although the nature of his role in that film has yet to be revealed. In Official Secrets, Freeman will play a colleague of Bettany’s character as the foreign affairs editor for the London Observer.
We will bring you more information associated with the release of Official Secrets as it becomes available to us. Reports indicate that the film will begin production sometime in May.
