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Eugene Jarecki‘s latest documentary film “The Six Billion Dollar Man,” which follows Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, will no longer make its debut at the Sundance Film Festival over what the director says are “unexpected developments” in the story. The movie will not be complete in time for its scheduled premiere in January.
“The truth is, significant recent and unexpected developments have emerged at the heart of the story which, if not incorporated in the version for Sundance, would not represent a finished film,” Jarecki said in a statement to press. “Sundance has shaped my career and been a cornerstone of my journey — only something of this magnitude could make me withdraw.”
“The Six Billion Dollar Man” was announced as part of Sundance’s lineup that was unveiled last week as a special screening out of competition. The film is directed by Jarecki and produced by Kathleen Fournier.
Here was the official synopsis for “The Six Billion Dollar Man”: “Julian Assange faced a possible 175 years in prison for exposing U.S. war crimes until events took a turn in this landmark case.”
Jarecki twice won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, including in 2005 for “Why We Fight” and again in 2012 for “The House I Live In.” He’s also known for his documentaries “The King” and “Reagan.”
While it’s unclear what the new developments in the Assange story were, Assange in June pled guilty to obtaining and publishing U.S. military secrets, striking a deal with the U.S. Justice Department that allowed him to return to Australia without facing any time in American prison. Assange had already spent five years in prison in the United Kingdom over an Espionage Act indictment.
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival kicks off Thursday, January 23 and run through February 2 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah.
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