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Trial by Fire Movie Cast, Plot and Everything to Know

Portrait of Amy Renner Amy Renner

Last modified: Apr. 8, 2019

Trial by Fire

Release Date: Friday, May 17, 2019 Limited

Director: Ed Zwick

Starring: Jack O'Connell Laura Dern

N/A Crime 2 hrs, 7 m

  • 2.3 / 5
63% 37%

Plot

What's the story about?

Plot
Trial by Fire is the true-life Texas story of the unlikely bond between an imprisoned death row inmate (Jack O'Connell) and a mother of two from Houston (Laura Dern) who, though facing staggering odds, fights mightily for his freedom. Cameron Todd Willingham, a poor, uneducated heavy metal devotee with a violent streak and a criminal record, is convicted of arson-related triple homicide in 1992. During his 12 years on death row, Elizabeth Gilbert, an improbable ally, uncovers questionable methods and illogical conclusions in his case, and battles with the state to expose suppressed evidence that could save him. Her efforts ultimately fail, and since Willingham’s execution, the disturbing question remains: Did Texas execute an innocent man?
Crime Drama

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Top Cast

The lead cast starring in Trial by Fire.

  • J
    Jack O'Connell

    ... Cameron Todd Willingham

    HHhH, 28 Years Later

  • L
    Laura Dern

    ... Elizabeth Gilbert

    The Fault In Our Stars, Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Crew Behind the Film

The Trial by Fire behind-the-scenes crew and production team.

The film's director Ed Zwick last directed Pawn Sacrifice and Love and Other Drugs. The film's writer Geoffrey Fletcher last wrote Violet and Daisy and Attica.

Director
Ed Zwick
Screenwriter
Producers
Kipp Nelson
Alex Soros
Allyn Stewart
Ed Zwick

Production Details

What we know about the Trial by Fire movie production.

Key Facts

  • Adapted from the 2009 article in The New Yorker.

Production Updates for Trial by Fire

Completed

Changed Trial by Fire movie production status. The movie is ready for release.

Post-Production

Changed the movie production status to Post-Production. The movie is now in the editing and finishing stages.

Pre-Production

Changed the movie production status to Pre-Production. Production is set to begin October 2 in Atlanta.

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Additional Information

Parent Rating
N/A Not available
Runtime
2 hrs, 7 m
Tagline
Not available
Also known as
Not available
Language
English

All Trailers

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Release Dates

When was the film released?

Trial by Fire was released in limited movie theaters on Friday, May 17, 2019. There were 12 other movies released on the same date, including John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, The Sun Is Also A Star and A Dog's Journey. As a limited release, Trial by Fire was shown in select movie theaters in major markets.

Movie Theaters

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On DVD, Blu-ray / 4K

  • 2019-07 Estimated Release DVD

Buy/Rent on Digital (Ultra HD)



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Across the Web

Follow the Updates
  • Added a running time of 127 minutes

  • Set film release to Limited

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