Eugene Jarecki‘s newest documentary movie “The Six Billion Greenback Man,” which follows Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, will not make its debut on the Sundance Movie Competition over what the director says are “surprising developments” within the story. The film won’t be full in time for its scheduled premiere in January.
“The reality is, vital latest and surprising developments have emerged on the coronary heart of the story which, if not included within the model for Sundance, wouldn’t symbolize a completed movie,” Jarecki mentioned in a press release to press. “Sundance has formed my profession and been a cornerstone of my journey — solely one thing of this magnitude might make me withdraw.”
“The Six Billion Greenback Man” was introduced as a part of Sundance’s lineup that was unveiled final week as a particular screening out of competitors. The movie is directed by Jarecki and produced by Kathleen Fournier.
Right here was the official synopsis for “The Six Billion Greenback Man”: “Julian Assange confronted a doable 175 years in jail for exposing U.S. conflict crimes till occasions took a flip on this landmark case.”
Jarecki twice received the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, together with in 2005 for “Why We Struggle” and once more in 2012 for “The Home I Reside In.” He’s additionally recognized for his documentaries “The King” and “Reagan.”
Whereas it’s unclear what the brand new developments within the Assange story had been, Assange in June pled responsible to acquiring and publishing U.S. army secrets and techniques, placing a cope with the U.S. Justice Division that allowed him to return to Australia with out going through any time in American jail. Assange had already spent 5 years in jail in the UK over an Espionage Act indictment.
The 2025 Sundance Movie Competition kicks off Thursday, January 23 and run via February 2 in Park Metropolis and Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah.