Sean Penn is set to direct a film about a police officer who was present in the nation’s capital on January 6, 2021. Bradley Cooper is reportedly in discussions to portray the lead role.

The untitled project, described as a “passion project” by Penn—who recently won his third Academy Award for One Battle After Another—will follow the officer’s early life.

Reports indicate that the film will reteam Penn with Warner Bros., which has acquired it through a negative pickup. Penn will produce the project alongside John Ira Palmer and John Wildermuth under their Projected Picture Works banner, with CAA Media Finance handling negotiations for the deal.

Production is scheduled for mid-2027, pending Bradley Cooper’s commitments on the upcoming Oceans film.

The project has been described as an “unexpected story about friendship.” However, it is understood to be based on a real-life police officer involved in the January 6 Capitol attack, with the subject’s identity remaining confidential for now.

Sources state that the film will trace the officer’s early journey, leading to their later recognition as an American hero by many. While not explicitly framed as a “January 6 movie,” the project comes amid ongoing political divisions and concerns about its studio’s future ownership.

Penn attended the 2022 hearings of the House Select Committee investigating January 6, stating he was there “as just another citizen.” During these hearings, he sat between two Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police officers: Michael Fanone and Daniel Hodges.

The film announcement follows recent news that the U.S. Justice Department cleared Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery—a $111 billion deal agreed to in February—that would place Warner Bros. under the control of David Ellison, Paramount’s chief executive.

Ellison, who shares ties with former President Donald Trump and attended a White House Ultimate Fighting Championship event recently, has been associated with the studio since his father, Larry Ellison, co-founded Oracle.

Penn won his third Academy Award for his role in One Battle After Another, which was honored as best picture at the March Academy Awards. However, Penn skipped the ceremony to visit Ukraine.