Hollywood to explore Bradley Manning, WikiLeaks

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― The story of WikiLeaks is the kind of real-life drama Hollywood loves, so expect to see multiple interpretations of it on the big screen.

Several projects chronicle the organization’s enigmatic leader, Julian Assange, and recently convicted U.S. leaker Bradley Manning.

Alex Gibney’s documentary, “We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks,’’ was released earlier this year. Bill Condon’s narrative take on the tale, “The Fifth Estate,’’ will premiere in September at the Toronto Film Festival.

Two other WikiLeaks projects are in development. “Zero Dark Thirty’’ screenwriter Mark Boal optioned a New York Times article about Assange earlier this year, and Gibney acquired the rights last year to Denver Nicks’ 2012 book, “Private: Bradley Manning, WikiLeaks, and the Biggest Exposure of Official Secrets in American History.’’

“The Bradley Manning story is easily one of the most important stories of the last decade,’’ Nicks told Democracy Now! last year. “In many ways, Bradley Manning’s story is the story of the United States in the post-9/11 era.’’