The first image from Jay Roach’s dramedy biopic, Trumbo, has been released, offering a darned good look at leading man Bryan Cranston’s awesome moustache. Taking on the titular role, Cranston plays screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who back in the day was shunned by Hollywood for his involvement in the Communist Party.
The film takes place during the height of the cold war, during which time a group of ten screenwriters and directors were cited for contempt of Congress after refusing to testify about their ties to Communism. Trumbo was one such scribe, who shunned Congress’ House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1947 and was subsequently punished as a result.
Not only did the industry refuse to accommodate him, but he also spent eleven months in prison. Later in life, he managed to circumnavigate Hollywood’s shackles by writing under a pseudonym. Suffice it to say, his experiences never hindered his brilliant capacity to tell a good yarn, as he went on to script Roman Holiday, The Brave One and Spartacus.
It’s a fascinating story, and one which will no doubt translate successfully to the big screen. With today’s first glimpse coinciding nicely with the shoot having wrapped production recently, we should be in store for a teaser and/or further promotional pics soon. Ha, as if we need anything else now that we’ve got Cranston puffing away behind his typewriter.
Diane Lane, Elle Fanning, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg, Louis C.K., Alan Tudyk, Adewale Akkinuoye-Agbaje and Helen Mirren round out the cast for Trumbo, which is set for release sometime in 2015 and will be distributed by Bleecker Street.