US director Oliver Stone wants to make a documentary about Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said Thursday (November 6) on a visit to Moscow, where he is working on a film about fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden. The controversial film-maker has already made a documentary about his relationship with the former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, as well as \u201cMy Friend Hugo\u201d, a tribute to the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. \u201cI would interview (Putin) to show the point of view that Americans don\u2019t want to hear about,\u201d Stone told RIA-Novosti news agency. \u201cI would like to make a documentary about him.\u201d\nStone met Putin earlier this week after an event in a Moscow theatre. The three-time Oscar nominated director of \u201cPlatoon\u201d, \u201cWall Street\u201d and \u201cJFK\u201d has been flying back and forth to Russia to make a film about Snowden, recently tapping actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt for the role.
\n\u201cWe are working on the screenplay of the film,\u201d which is partly based on a book written by Snowden\u2019s Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena, he told RIA Novosti. \u201cWe hope to begin shooting at the beginning of next year, since we have been working on the screenplay for almost a year and we are very happy that everything is working out.\u201d
\nKucherena told AFP that he and Stone are poring over the screenplay now. \u201cI think it turned out really well,\u201d he said, adding that Snowden has also approved of the choice of the actor to play him. \u201cI discussed (Gordon-Levitt) with Snowden, and he said it is up to the screenwriter and director.\u201d
\n\u201cHe is not against (the movie). Who would be against a movie about themselves?\u201d Kucherena said. \u201cWe have a trusting relationship (with Stone),\u201d Kucherena said. \u201cAt first we were suspicious of each other.\u201d
\nEdward Snowden has been living in Russia since June 2013 after becoming stranded at Moscow\u2019s Sheremetyevo airport after flying from Hong Kong where he revealed the extent of the US global surveillance programme. Accorded refugee status, he has been staying at an undisclosed location ever since, where he has been visited by his American girlfriend Lindsay Mills. They have been exploring Russia and going to the theatre together, Kucherena told AFP last month.
\nStone previously said he is working on a movie about the Ukraine conflict, which has led to the worst crisis in Russia\u2019s relations with the West since the Cold War.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"