“Winner” Trailer: Emilia Jones Stars in New Take on True Story of Reality Winner's NSA Leak (Exclusive)
'Winner' is in select theaters and on demand Sept. 13
Emilia Jones is taking on the life story of Reality Winner.
On Aug. 29, Vertical debuted the trailer for Winner exclusively with PEOPLE. The film stars Jones (CODA) as Winner, the former National Security Agency contractor who spent more than four years in jail for leaking classified documents to news media.
The trailer showcases Reality's childhood and upbringing in Texas and covers her time with the U.S. Air Force before she began working for the NSA.
Winner also covers her time with the NSA and the aftermath of her decision to mail classified documents concerning Russian government efforts to infiltrate U.S. voting systems before the 2016 presidential election to The Intercept.
Related: Reality Winner Gives First Interview Since Espionage Conviction: 'I Am Not a Traitor'
Courtesy of Vertical
Emilia Jones in WinnerA synopsis teases, "Reality Winner is a brilliant young misfit from a Texas border town who loves her pink gun almost as much as helping others."
After transitioning from military work to a contract job with the National Security Agency, Winner "stumbles upon government secrets regarding Russia's election hacking during the 2016 Presidential campaign," adds the synopsis. "Does she expose the truth or keep quiet?"
Winner also stars Connie Britton, Danny Ramirez, Kathryn Newton and Zach Galifianakis.
Courtesy of Vertical
Emilia Jones in "Winner"Jones, 22, teams up with director Susanna Fogel after the pair collaborated on 2023's Cat Person. The new movie is based on the 2017 New York Magazine article "Who Is Reality Winner?"
The actress told IndieWire back in January she struck a genuine friendship with Winner while researching her role for the movie. “And I think that’s perfect, really, because that’s what we’re trying to do with this movie," she said. "We’re trying to humanize her and show people she’s so much more than just a name in a headline.”
Courtesy of Vertical
Emilia Jones in WinnerNever miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer??, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Jones is not the first person to portray Winner on screen: Sydney Sweeney previously played her in HBO's 2023 movie Reality, which was in part based on the transcript of the real-life Winner's actual conversation with FBI agents at her home on June 3, 2017.
Winner is in select theaters and on demand Sept. 13.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
