First Look: "Battle in Seattle"

“Battle in Seattle” boasts a solid cast and compelling premise, but chances are you’ve never heard of the film before.

Directed by Stuart Townsend, and starring Martin Henderson, Woody Harrelson, Charlize Theron, Andre Benjamin and Ray Liotta, the flick focuses on the massive protest that broke out during the 1999 World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle.

Here’s the complete synopsis from the official site: Based on one of the most incendiary political uprisings in a generation, Battle in Seattle takes an in-depth look at the five days that rocked the world in 1999 as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in protest on the World Trade Organization.

What began as a peaceful protest intended to stop the WTO talks quickly escalated into a full-scale riot and eventual State of Emergency that squared off the protesters against the Seattle Police Department and the National Guard.

“Battle in Seattle” will screen at the 34th Seattle International Film Festival in May. A wider release is scheduled for September. The film also marks Stuart Townsend’s directorial debut. He is most famous for his roles in “About Adam,” “Queen of the Damned” and “Trapped.”

The first trailer for the film debuted on the Web today. You can check it out HERE or below. For more information on the protest, head over to the film’s Web site.