Paul Greengrass to direct Aaron Sorkin’s Chicago 7

Paul Greengrass is in “final talks” to direct Aaron Sorkin’s script The Trial of the Chicago 7; a project that was once set to be Steven Spielberg’s next big Oscar hope.

According to Deadline, DreamWorks has decided to move on from Spielberg – who had been sitting on the screenplay since 2008 – and court Greengrass for the gig.

It is a dramatic retelling of the court case in which the infamous protestors of the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago defended themselves against the government.

Sorkin loves his depositions, so we can expect a script with plenty of his trademark snap.

Budgeted between $20 and $30 million, production is expected to begin in January of 2014. Look for it at the 2015 Academy Awards ceremony.