Academy Award-winner Jessica Chastain (Eyes of Tammy Faye, Zero Dark Thirty, Interstellar), Academy Award-winner Brendan Fraser (The Whale, Killers of the Flower Moon), and Academy Award-nominee Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad,” Trumbo) have joined Academy Award-winner Al Pacino (The Irishman, Scarface) in the mystery thriller Assassination. The film is directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Bugsy) from a script by David Mamet, with Levinson and Sam Bromell (Elvis).

Assassination reveals a new take on the JFK conspiracy, centering around Dorothy Kilgallen, one of the most famous voices in media at the time. When Dorothy suspects that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone, she uses her fame and influence to find the real killer of JFK. Part murder mystery, part film noir, Dorothy’s journey will put her up against the CIA, Mafia bosses, and the FBI, all who would love nothing more than to make her and this story disappear. 

The film is produced by Corey Large (Paradise City, It Follows) alongside Jason Sosnoff (The Survivor, Wizard of Lies). Large is also financing Assassination. John Burnham, Bernie Gewissler, Pia Patatian and Jordan Nott are executive producers. Production is set to begin in early 2025 in Boston, MA.

Global sales executive Pia Patatian is handling worldwide rights through her new company Concord Studios.

“Dorothy Kilgallen was the first female crime reporter in America. She was the only woman to ever cover the JFK case. The only reporter to speak with Jack Ruby. With back-channel sources to the Warren Commission, she started putting pieces together that no one else did. She died under very suspicious circumstances, but it was never investigated,” said Barry Levinson.

“We love the idea of exploring this topic through Dorothy’s perspective. She was relentless and courageous in pursuing the truth, and this film is as much her story as it is the uncovering of what happened that day in Dallas. It’s beyond exciting to see that Jessica, Brendan, and Bryan are joining Pacino in bringing Barry’s vision to life,” added Jason Sosnoff.

“It’s an amazing privilege to be working with such distinguished actors. They are perfectly cast to bring the thrilling nuances of this original and dynamic script to life under Barry’s guiding hand. Dorothy Kilgallen’s journey is one of the most fascinating untold stories and we are overjoyed to bring it to life for eager audiences,” said Corey Large. 

Nicholas Celozzi is also producing.

Celebrated for her work across film, television, and theater, Jessica Chastain holds an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a Drama Desk, 5 Critic’s Choice, and three SAG Awards. She has also received multiple nominations including an Emmy, 2 Tonys, 5 SAG, 2 BAFTA, 3 Academy Award, 6 Critic’s Choice and 9 Golden Globes.Having trained at The Juilliard School, Jessica's journey began with breakthrough roles in acclaimed films such as "The Help,” Terrence Malick’s "The Tree of Life," and "Zero Dark Thirty."

Some of her most notable roles include her captivating portrayal of Tammy Faye Bakker in "The Eyes of Tammy Faye," the astronaut Melissa Lewis in "The Martian," the enigmatic Murph in "Interstellar," as well as the real-life figure Molly Bloom In "Molly's Game." In addition to these notable roles, Jessica has appeared in numerous other films, including “Take Shelter,” "Lawless," "Miss Sloane," and "Crimson Peak." On television, she starred in the critically acclaimed miniseries “George & Tammy” for Showtime and "Scenes from a Marriage” for HBO. Her notable roles in theatre include Nora in Jamie Lloyd’s A Dolls House, Catherine Sloper in The Heiress, and Salome opposite Al Pacino.

Brendan Fraser is an Academy Award winning actor that continues to garner widespread critical acclaim for his versatile, inspired performances as well as his keen eye for selecting thought-provoking material. 

Fraser starred in Darren Aronofsky’s, The Whale, which premiered in December 2022 and earned him several awards including his first Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, a Critics Choice Movie Award, SAG Award, AACTA International Award, Satellite Award, and nominations for a Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, and Gotham Independent Film Award. Most recently, Fraser was seen in Martin Scorsese’s Epic Western, Killers Of The Flower Moon, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone. Other recent works for Fraser include Steven Soderbergh’s No Sudden Move for HBOMax, as well as Doom Patrol, the hit HBOMax/DC Entertainment series where he stars as Cliff Steele and is the voice of Robotman.  

Fraser has also appeared in Trust, an FX anthology series where he starred opposite Donald Sutherland and Hilary Swank; and Condor, where he played Nathan Flower, an unstable yet efficient central cog in an unholy alliance between the private military company that employs him and the CIA.  Upcoming works for Fraser include Searchlight’s Rental Family (2025 release) from filmmaker Hikari, and Working Title’s Pressure, alongside Andrew Scott, where he will play Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Bryan Cranston is an Academy Award nominee, and an Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, Tony, and Olivier Award winner. He most recently starred in Matthew Vaughn’s Argylle and lent his voice to Kung Fu Panda 4. Up next, Cranston will star in Everything’s Going to Be Great opposite Allison Janney.

Barry Levinson is the Academy Award-winning director, screenwriter and producer who was awarded the Best Director Oscar for the multiple Academy Award-winning Rain Man. Bugsy, directed and produced by Levinson, was nominated for ten Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. As a screenwriter, Levinson has received three Oscar nominations for And Justice for All, Diner and Avalon. Other iconic films include The Natural, Good Morning Vietnam, Wag the Dog and Sleepers. Levinson has also directed and executive produced with his producing partner Jason Sosnoff, the HBO Films You Don’t Know Jack, Wizard of Lies, and Paterno, which received a combined 21 Emmy® nominations, and more recently, “Dopesick,” which also went on to critical acclaim. His film for Warner Brothers Pictures, Alto Knights, about the legendary mob boss who brought down the American mafia, stars Robert De Niro and comes out in 2025. Levinson is the recipient of the WGA’s Laurel Award for Screen, honoring a lifetime achievement in outstanding writing for motion pictures.

Corey Large is currently producing Demian Lichtenstein’s action thriller The Razor’s Edge starring James Franco and Tommy Lee Jones, which recently wrapped production in Georgia. Additional projects include Jesse V. Johnson’s CIA action thriller Scorpion starring Aaron Eckhart.

Chastain is represented by Mosaic, CAA, Steve Warren (Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox) & imPRint; Fraser is represented by CAA, Linden Entertainment, Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson ; and Cranston is represented by UTA and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.