Just before Christmas, we got word that DreamWorks’ formerly untitled WikiLeaks project had finally settled on a title: The Man Who Sold the World. I personally think that’s a pretty nifty, cool-sounding name for a film, but the DreamWorks folk apparently feel differently: Variety‘s Justin Kroll, reporting from his Twitter page, has stated that the film is now called The Fifth Estate. If that change may seem a touch vague at this point — maybe the first title was too long? — the next part of Kroll’s announcement is as clear-cut as can be: The film will be released on November 15, 2013.
Director Bill Condon (coming off The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2) has been given an excellent cast for the film, starting right at the top with the much-loved Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange (perfect casting, I should think). Filling out the field of actors are Alicia Vikander (so endearing in Joe Wright‘s Anna Karenina), Daniel Brühl (Inglourious Basterds), Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey), and Carice van Houten.
The Fifth Estate is based on a screenplay from Josh Singer (The West Wing, Fringe, Lie to Me), which the experienced TV writer adapted from two books with very long titles: David Leigh and Luke Harding‘s WikiLeaks: Inside Julian Assange’s War on Secrecy and Daniel Domscheit-Berg‘s Inside WikiLeaks: My Time with Julian Assange at the World’s Most Dangerous Website. (Why not add Inside to the film’s title somehow?) Our December report signaled a January shoot for the film, which is probably still going strong, though there must be some positive indications that convinced DreamWorks to step out and secure the late-year date. Check out the first image from EW below, featuring our main duo.
What are your thoughts on the title change? Do you think the mid-November release date will be a good slot for the film?