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Jeremy Strong begged Aaron Sorkin to use real tear gas on ’The Trial Of The Chicago 7’ set

Aaron Sorkin says Jeremy Strong really wanted to be tear-gassed in The Trial of The Chicago 7 (Image by Netflix)
Aaron Sorkin says Jeremy Strong really wanted to be tear-gassed in The Trial of The Chicago 7 (Image by Netflix)

Jeremy Strong begged writer and director Aaron Sorkin to use actual tear gas on him for a scene in their upcoming Netflix movie The Trial Of The Chicago 7.

The Oscar winning screenwriter admitted as much to Vanity Fair, revealing that Strong remained in character throughout production on the political and court-room drama.

Read More: Sacha Baron Cohen is unrecognisable in first look at 'The Trial of the Chicago 7'

“Jeremy begged me to spray him with real tear gas,” said Sorkin, who rather wisely declined to do so. Strong also asked a former Chicago police officer, who was playing one in the film, to throw him down to the ground before every take, too.

Strong previously worked as Daniel Day-Lewis’ assistant, which might explain why he is so insistent on being a Method actor.

Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin poses at the BAFTA Los Angeles Awards Season Tea Party in Los Angeles, California, January 6, 2018. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin poses at the BAFTA Los Angeles Awards Season Tea Party in Los Angeles, California, January 6, 2018. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

Strong plays civil rights activist Jerry Rubin in The Trial Of The Chicago 7, which revolves around how the National Guard and police officers attacked a peaceful protest outside the 1968 Democratic Convention. The titular Chicago seven were charged by the United States government with conspiracy and inciting to riot.

The Trial Of The Chicago 7 has one of the most impressive casts of the year. As well as Strong, it will star Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne, Yahya Abdul-Mateen, Mark Rylance, Joseph Hordon Levitt, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Frank Langella, William Hurt, and Michael Keaton.

Read More: Kelvin Harrison Jr: Aaron Sorkin was 'conducting a symphony' on 'Trial of the Chicago 7' (exclusive)

Originally scheduled to be released into cinemas by Paramount Pictures at the end of September, the studio sold The Trial Of The Chicago 7 to Netflix at the start of July for around $56 million.

Netflix are still planning to release The Trial Of The Chicago 7 around the same time, though, as it is now scheduled to hit the streaming service on October 16.