‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ trailer: Sacha Baron Cohen leads this star-studded film on 1968 Chicago Protests

By Vandana Srivastawa

on September 15, 2020

One of the most infamous trials in American history is coming to screens on Netflix, with the new trailer for The Trial of the Chicago 7. The film is packed with stellar star cast that includes Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Frank Langella, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Jeremy Strong, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Michael Keaton, John Carroll Lynch and Alex Sharp. The incredible true story of the seven people who were put on trial stemming from the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago is written and directed by Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin.

What was intended to be a peaceful protest turned into a violent clash with police and the National Guard. The organizers of the protest—including Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden and Bobby Seale—were charged with conspiracy to incite a riot and the trial that followed was one of the most notorious in history. The trailer begins with shots of inside and outside packed courtroom with Abbie Hoffman (Sacha Baron Cohen) on trial. The trailer shows the demonstration outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, when the police force start loading their guns to intimidate the crowd.

THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING.
From Academy Award-Winner Aaron Sorkin, The Trial Of The Chicago 7. In select theaters September and on @Netflix October 16. pic.twitter.com/YrFaYoctEf

— The Trial of the Chicago 7 (@trialofchicago7) September 14, 2020

The Chicago 7 were the seven defendants who were charged by the Federal government with igniting riots, conspiracy, and other charges related to the anti-Vietnam war. Jeremy Strong plays Jerry Rubin, Eddie Redmayne plays Tom Hayden, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays Bobby Seale. John Carroll Lynch plays David Dellinger, Alex Sharp is Rennie Davis, Danny Flaherty as John Friones and Noah Robbins as Lee Weiner.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 was originally slated for a theatrical released by Paramount Pictures but was ultimately sold to Netflix amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the film will release in select theatres. The film will release on the streaming giant on October 16, 2020.