Everything We Know About Assassination, The New Thriller About JFK’s Death

A new thriller about John F. Kennedy’s assassination is in the works. The news comes amidst reports that a Netflix miniseries about JFK’s life, similar to The Crown, is in development.

According to early reports of the film Deadline, “Assassination will retell the fateful murder of John F. Kennedy from the mob’s point of view, reimagining his death as a hit ordered by Chicago mob kingpin Sam Giancana as payback for JFK’s attempt to undermine the mob after they helped get him elected.” The idea that Kennedy’s murder was a mob hit is one of the biggest Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories that persists to this day.

A newer summary of film reads: “The film offers up a new take on the JFK conspiracy, centering around Kilgallen, one of the most famous voices in media at the time. When she suspects that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone, she uses her fame and influence to find President John F. Kennedy’s real killer. Part murder mystery, part film noir, Kilgallen’s journey will put her up against the CIA, mafia bosses and the FBI, all who would love nothing more than to make her and this story disappear.”

Here’s everything we know about Assassination:

Assassination features a star-studded cast.

The announced cast includes, so far, Al Pacino, Jessica Chastain, Brendan Fraser, and Bryan Cranston.

Pacino is set to play Tony Accardo, a senior mob boss. Chastain will play Dorothy Kilgallen, a crime reporter.

“Dorothy Kilgallen was the first female crime reporter in America. She was the only woman to ever cover the JFK case. The only reporter to speak with Jack Ruby. With back-channel sources to the Warren Commission, she started putting pieces together that no one else did,” director Barry Levinson said. “She died under very suspicious circumstances, but it was never investigated.”

The film is co-written by Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet.

Mamet co-wrote the film with Nicholas Celozzi, the grandnephew of the Chicago mob kingpin Sam Giancana, and Barry Levinson is set to direct.

“Assassination is a riveting and gripping thriller set in a pivotal period in American history, brilliantly crafted by Mamet – it’s an absolutely fantastic project,” Arclight Films Chairman and executive producer Gary Hamilton said in a statement.

“We love the idea of exploring this topic through Dorothy’s perspective. She was relentless and courageous in pursuing the truth, and this film is as much her story as it is the uncovering of what happened that day in Dallas. It’s beyond exciting to see that Jessica, Brendan and Bryan are joining Pacino in bringing Barry’s vision to life,” producer Jason Sosnoff said.

Production was originally slated to begin in fall 2023, but it will likely start in early 2025 in Boston. No premiere date has been set yet; we’ll update this as soon as we learn more.