Sean Penn Set to Direct Film Based on Jan. 6 Capitol Riot

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Sean Penn is set to direct a new movie focused on a police officer involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. Warner Bros. recently announced this project, highlighting Penn’s shift from his acclaimed performance in ‘One Battle After Another’ to a directorial role. The film, still untitled, will be based on Penn’s script.

Bradley Cooper is currently in negotiations to star in the movie, although a formal agreement has not yet been reached. Both Warner Bros. and Penn’s representatives have not provided specifics about the movie’s lead character but confirmed it draws inspiration from a real individual.

Penn’s interest in the topic was evident when he attended the House Select Committee hearings in 2022. He was seated alongside Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police officers Michael Fanone and Daniel Hodges, both of whom were present during the attacks on the Capitol. Fanone’s testimony detailed the violence he endured, being grabbed, beaten, and tased, leading him to suffer a heart attack. Hodges also shared his stressful experience during the hearings. Penn described his presence there as an ordinary citizen seeking justice.

The movie promises to explore ‘an unexpected friendship,’ and filming is slated to begin in mid-2027.

Sean Penn at an event: Sean Penn appeared at the Hammond Cinema Vanguard Award ceremony at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February 2026.

This announcement follows recent news from the U.S. Justice Department regarding the negotiations around Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which will place Warner Bros. under the leadership of David Ellison, known for his ties to former President Trump.

Ellison, along with his father Larry Ellison, attended a UFC event at the White House last Sunday.

‘One Battle After Another,’ celebrated for its political insights, won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Penn’s portrayal of Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, a controversial military figure, earned him his third Oscar. Instead of attending the ceremony, Penn chose to visit Ukraine.