Jeremy Renner Takes on the CIA in First 'Kill the Messenger' Trailer

As issues of national security, whistleblowing, and the freedom of information are more prevalent than ever thanks to the continued chatter of one Edward Snowden, a movie like Kill the Messenger couldn't be more timely. And while we've seen many movies dealing with this subject of late, such as last year's underwhelming The Fifth Estate, this one has the benefit of Jeremy Renner in the lead role as a man who went head-to-head with the CIA and lost everything.

Renner plays real-life journalist Gary Webb in the first Kill the Messenger trailer, which looks like a cracking good political thriller. Webb was a writer for the San Jose Mercury News whose series of "Dark Alliance" articles exposed the CIA's connection to Nicaraguan drug smugglers. For those reports he was smeared in the media, ruining his personal and professional life with tragic consequences. Renner is surrounded by a great cast including Rosemarie DeWitt, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Barry Pepper, Paz Vega, Michael K. Williams, Michael Sheen, Oliver Platt, and Ray Liotta.

Directed by Homeland's Michael Cuesta, Kill the Messenger opens October 10th.