Tim Fehlbaum's upcoming historical drama September 5 is based on the hostage situation that took place in the 1972 Munich Olympics, where the crew of ABC Sports had covered the entire incident. The movie premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 29, 2024, and will have a select theatrical release on November 29, 2024.
Ben Chaplin will star in the drama film alongside John Magaro, Peter Sarsgaard, and Leonie Benesch in the lead roles. Paramount Pictures will reportedly control the worldwide distribution rights. Moritz Binder and Alex David have worked on the screenplay with director Fehlbaum as co-writer.
According to reports, Fehlbaum has researched all the events for months and replicated ABC's broadcasting facility to give his true-story adaptation an authentic look. The official synopsis of September 5 reads:
"During the 1972 Munich Olympics, an American sports broadcasting crew finds itself thrust into covering the hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes."
When will September 5 be released?
September 5 will be released in limited theatres on November 29, 2024, and Paramount Pictures will further expand the film's distribution on December 13, 2024. Moreover, it was the opening movie at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, which took place on August 29, 2024.
What do we know about the plot of September 5?
September 5 is based on the true incidents from the hostage crisis that took place at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. It has unveiled a crucial moment that forever altered media coverage throughout the world and even impacts live news to date.
The movie revolves around the American sports broadcasting network ABC Sports, which went on from covering sports events to portraying scenes from a hostage situation involving a group of Israeli athletes. The protagonist Geoffrey Mason (played by John Magaro), also known as Geoff, an ambitious producer, struggles to prove his worth to the legendary news executive Roone Arledge (played by Peter Sarsgaard).
Alongside him, we see a German interpreter, Marianne (played by Leonie Bennesch), who helps him in the live coverage. As the story unravels, the situation becomes more intense while the hostages' lives hang by a thread.
In such an overwhelming situation, Geoff has to make some tough decisions as the rumors spread, and his moral compass further challenges him. The historical angle, along with an adequate amount of drama and suspense, has reportedly set the mood right for the plot.
Who is in the cast of September 5?
Peter Sarsgaard will play the part of the legendary news broadcasting executive Roone Arledge alongside co-star John Magaro in the role of Geoffrey Mason (a young and ambitious journalist). Sarsgaard has recently appeared on screen for the thriller series Presumed Innocent. On the other hand, Magaro has played roles in films like Past Lives and Showing Up.
Ben Chaplin, known for his work in The Thin Red Line and The New World, will be cast as Marvin Bader in September 5. Leonie Benesch has played the role of Marianne, a German interpreter. Benesch has done notable work in The Crown and Around The World In 80 Days.
Among others in the cast, we have:
- Benjamin Walker as Peter Charles Archibald Etwart Jennings (a Canadian TV journalist)
- Zinedine Soualem as Jacques Lesgards
- Corey Johnson as Hack Hanson
- Georgina Rich as Gladys Deist
- Ronny Herman as David Berger (an American-Israeli athlete)
Stay tuned to Soap Central for more information.