It's a political thriller about protests in Iran... It's a comedy about working the Hollywood system... It's a suspenseful drama about a hostage extraction... and IT ALL HAPPENED IN REAL LIFE! Oh, and it's also an adapted screenplay based on an engrossing article, "How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans From Tehran" by Joshuah Bearman (written for WIRED).

Character Cheat Sheet!

• Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) - main character and CIA operative responsible for extraction
• Jack O'Donnell (Bryan Cranston) - Tony's boss within the CIA
• Hamilton Jordan (Kyle Chandler) - Chief of Staff to President Jimmy Carter
• Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) - real movie producer of a fake movie
• John Chambers (John Goodman) - real makeup artist of a fake movie
• Ken Taylor (Victor Garber) - Canadian Ambassador
• Hostages:
  • Bob Anders (Tate Donovan)
  • Mark Lijek (Christopher Denham)
  • Cora Lijek (Clea DuVall)
  • Joe Stafford (Scoot McNairy)
  • Kathy Stafford (Kerry Bishé
  • Lee Schatz (Rory Cochrane)

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Opening and Closing theme by Aesop Rock