Actor and filmmaker Sean Penn is reportedly developing a feature film centered on the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, with Bradley Cooper in talks to star.
According to Deadline, the project is based on a screenplay written by Penn and follows a police officer caught in the events surrounding the Capitol breach.
The film is said to be inspired by the experiences of a real law enforcement officer, although the individual’s identity has not been publicly confirmed.
No final casting agreement has been announced, but Cooper is reportedly in discussions to take the lead role.
#SeanPenn is set to direct a film about the early life of a police officer who was present for the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol:
• #BradleyCooper is being eyed for the lead role, though the real-life inspiration for the film has yet to be identified
• The untitled film… pic.twitter.com/NVRTJWhG6g
— Variety (@Variety) June 16, 2026
There is speculation that the film may draw on the experiences of former Capitol Police officer Michael Fanone.
In the aftermath of the protests, Fanone sought to cash in on his experiences with book deals, television appearances, and becoming a symbol of the anti-Trump resistance.
His most noteworthy attempt was through the publishing of a memoir, Hold the Line, detailing his experiences during and after January 6th.
Michael Fanone defames President Trump by falsely saying “there are credible allegations that we’ve now seen that Donald Trump r*ped children.”
Sue Fanone for all that he’s got.pic.twitter.com/DfTnGOYdvU
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) March 13, 2026
Penn attended congressional hearings examining the Capitol riot in 2022 in which Fanone and several of his colleagues exaggerated the severity of the events.
At the time, he said he attended as a private citizen and was seen speaking with Fanone during the proceedings.
Penn is notorious for his left-wing politics and is predictably a fervent critic of President Trump.
He has previously described Trump as a “demagogue” and has sharply criticized his political movement in numerous public appearances and interviews.
Just last year, he won Best Supporting Actor for his role One Battle After Another as a white supremacist military officer pursuing a group of socialist revolutionaries.
Communist Propaganda Film ‘One Battle After Another’ Sweeps Six Oscars Including Best Picture
Ben Kew is a writer and editor. Originally from the UK, he moved to the U.S. to cover Congress for Breitbart News and has since gone on to editorial roles at Human Events, Townhall Media, and Americano Media. He has also written for The Epoch Times, The Western Journal, and The Spectator.
You can email Ben Kew here, and read more of Ben Kew’s articles here.
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