Joseph Gordon-Levitt eyes Snowden role

Sources tell Variety that Stone has offered the part to Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and that the actor has agreed to do it. Though negotiations have not yet begun, both sides want the deal to happen.

Stone is writing and directing and will produce with Eric Kopeloff and Moritz Borman. Snowden’s story is now familiar to most: the former U.S. intelligence analyst released more classified documents than anyone since Daniel Ellsberg’s leaking of the Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam War.

He has been on the run ever since. Stone acquired the rights to the book Time of the Octopus by Snowden’s lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, which is considered the closest thing to a documented account of the events since Snowden first released the documents.

Gordon-Levitt is quickly becoming one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors, given his ability to jump from action to comedy to serious dramas.

He recently wrapped production on the Robert Zemeckis film The Walk, another biopic where he plays Philippe Petit, the high-wire artist who famously crossed the World Trade Center Towers.

He was last seen in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For and is currently filming an untitled holiday pic with Seth Rogen.