The 38-year-old actor Chris Pine has had many memorable roles throughout his acting career. Sci-fi fans know him as James T. Kirk from the Star Trek reboot films.
Rom-com fans may remember him best for starring as Anne Hathaway’s love interest in ‘Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement’. And comic fans know him for his role in the latest big-screen adaptation of the Wonder Woman comics.
Now, it looks like he’s about to add another memorable role to his repertoire with the recent news of his casting in the upcoming film, ‘Newsflash’.
Playing a Newsman
According to Business Insider, Pine is set to play famous CBS anchor and broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite in the historical drama film. Its story will revolve around the fateful day of November 22, 1963, which is the day that former President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
The story will also focus on how ‘television network news came of age’ and Cronkite’s ascent to his status as one of the most trusted television journalists.
The news of Pine’s casting may be a surprise to some as Canadian-American comedian Seth Rogen was reportedly being eyed first for the role. According to IMDB, the film is already in its pre-production phase. Its script is reportedly penned by Ben Jacoby.
A Look at TV History
Aside from Cronkite, the film will also feature other historical figures involved in the television history of the 1960s such as the iconic newsman’s boss Jim Aubrey as well as the then-young reporter, Dan Rather, who notably ‘dug for truth’ about the president’s death together with other fellow reporters.
In ‘Newsflash’, Aubrey is written as the story’s primary antagonist. This stems from the CBS network executive’s attempt at firing Cronkite and even replacing the evening newscast in favor of programming that would be more appealing to the network’s audiences.
Upcoming Projects
‘Newsflash’ is only one among a couple of movie projects that the actor has coming up in the near future. He will reportedly reprise his role as Steve Trevor opposite Gal Gadot’s Diana in the ‘Wonder Woman’ sequel film set to come out in mid-2020 after its 2019 premiere was moved.
While fans seem happy about Pine’s return, others are still speculating about what role his character might play in ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ as his character notably sacrificed his life during the climax of the first ‘Wonder Woman’ film. The sequel’s director, Patty Jenkins, has yet to reveal what Steve Trevor might be doing in the 80s world of ‘Wonder Woman 1984’.
The actor is also reportedly starring in ‘Violence of Action’, an independent action thriller film helmed by Swedish director Tarik Saleh. Principal production on the movie has begun last May.