Brian Cox and Jodie Turner-Smith tackle ethics in the first footage from TheIndependent. Watch now:
Just a week ahead of its premiere, Peacock decided to tease us to their upcoming political thriller The Independent. The streamer released today a first-look clip that teases the look and feel of the movie. The story centers around a landmark presidential race in the U.S.. For the first time ever, the position could end up being filled by either a woman or an independent candidate. But a silver bullet discovered by journalists might change the game before election day.
The clip reveals a turning point in the race, and also a heated argument about ethics in journalism. In the scene, a journalist played by Jodie Turner-Smith enters the office of her editor, played by Brian Cox . She has two crucial pieces of information. One is the silver bullet that will take down one candidate and turn the election, and the other is that she got a fruit from the poisonous tree – the stack of papers that proves the story and changes the game is stolen.
COLLIDER VIDEO OF THE DAY The Independent also stars John Cena and Ann Dowd as the presidential candidates. The movie represents a career change for Cena, who usually leans more onto his comedic skills. A first-look image revealed by Empire back in May showcased a groomed Cena during a political rally.The political thriller has been brewing for years: It was featured on the 2013 Blacklist – a list of the best screenplays that somehow never managed to get produced.
The Independent is directed by two-time Emmy nominee Amy Rice, who has an extensive experience covering both politics and journalism. She directed the documentary By The People: The Election of Barack Obama, and also wrote for the HBO series The Newsroom, which covered ethics in practically every episode. The screenplay is written by Evan Parter, who makes his feature film writing debut.
It’s the final weeks of the most consequential presidential election in history. America is poised to elect either its first female president or its first viable independent candidate . Reporting history as it’s made, an idealistic young journalist teams up with her idol, legendary journalist Nick Booker , to uncover a conspiracy that places the fate of the election, and the country, in their hands.