'Richard Jewell': Release date, plot, cast, trailer, and everything you need to know about Clint Eastwood's new movie

Olivia Wilde and Jon Hamm are the newest additions to Clint Eastwood's upcoming project, which is titled 'The Ballad of Richard Jewell'
UPDATED DEC 13, 2019

Olivia Wilde and Jon Hamm star in Clint Eastwood's new movie 'Richard Jewell'. The star-studded drama features Paul Walter Hauser as the titular Jewell in the Warner Bros.’ movie alongside Sam Rockwell as Jewell’s attorney and Kathy Bates as Jewell’s mother.

Wilde essays the role of real-life journalist Kathy Scruggs, the one who chronicled the events. Hamm plays an FBI agent. Initially, Jonah Hill and Leonardo DiCaprio were supposed to be a part of the film with DiCaprio set to play Rockwell's role. But they will no longer be appearing in the film and will be associated with the project as producers. The script was written by Billy Ray.

Release date

The film releases in theaters December 13. 

Plot

The drama is based on Marie Brenner's article in Vanity Fair that chronicled the story of Jewell, a real-life security guard whose world was completely turned upside down after law enforcement leaked to an overexcited reporter that Jewell was a possible suspect for the pipe-bombing at Centennial Park during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Jewell's is one sad story. As law enforcement asserted that he had planted the bomb himself and then "found" it to earn praise; the city reopened its park, tried to calm their scared citizens – all this while the real perpetrator remained at large.

Throughout the time, Jewell maintained his innocence and his name was cleared by the FBI 88 days later, but his reputation could never be salvaged and his health was affected forever. He went on to become a police officer but died at the age of 44 of heart failure.

Cast

Paul Walter Hauser as Richard Jewell 

Paul Walter Hauser attends the "Late Night" Premiere during the 2019 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theatre on January 25, 2019 in Park City, Utah. (Getty Images)

Paul is known for his portrayal of Shawn Eckhardt in 'I, Tonya' and his work in Spike Lee's 'BlacKkKlansman'.

Olivia Wilde as journalist Kathy Scruggs

Olivia Wilde attends the "BOOKSMART" Gala Screening at Picturehouse Central on May 07, 2019 in London, England. (Getty Images)

Wilde made her feature film debut in May 2019 with 'Booksmart'. She is known for her of Remy Hadley in the medical drama 'House'. She is also known for her roles in the films 'Conversations with Other Women', 'Alpha Dog', 'Cowboys & Aliens', 'Butter', 'Rush', and 'The Lazarus Effect'.

Jon Hamm as FBI agent

Actor Jon Hamm attends the "The Report" Premiere during the 2019 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theatre on January 26, 2019 in Park City, Utah. (Getty Images)

Hamm is best known for playing advertising executive Don Draper on 'Mad Men'. He is also known for roles on 'Million Dollar Arm', 'Bridesmaids', 'Baby Driver', and 'Sucker Punch'. He was last seen in 'Good Omens' on Amazon Prime Video.

Creators 

Eastwood is going to be directing and producing the film. Tim Moore, Jessica Meier, Kevin Misher and DiCaprio’s partner Jennifer Davisson Killoran are also producing.

Trailers

The trailer shows Richard Jewell finding the bag with the bomb in Centennial Park -- a moment that changed his life. You see FBI agents getting Jewell to speak into the phone to record him saying, "There is a bomb in Centennial Park, you have 30 minutes." repeatedly.

This scene is intercut with scenes with Olivia Wilde as Kathy Scruggs telling her editor the FBI is investigating Richard Jewell because he fits the "lone bomber" profile and the editor tells her to run with the story.

There are scenes of confrontation between Scruggs and Jewell's lawyer who tells her, she's "ruined his life", while Scruggs sticks to her guns, saying she is "reporting the facts". You also see Kathy Bates as Jewell's mother addressing the media pleading that her son is innocent and that he "saved lives".



 

Where to watch

The movie will be coming to a theater near you. 

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