Adam Arkin "Not" in Spielberg's Trial of the Chicago 7... Yet
April 23, 2008

Since the explosion of online entertainment users has multiplied like wildfire in recent years, the old saying, "Don't believe everything you hear" has morphed into "Just because you see it on the internet, doesn't mean it's true." Today the latter applied when it came to our exclusive chat with actor Adam Arkin about his recent appearance on the hilariously crazy viral short form series Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show from the newly launched C-Spot comedy channel. If you haven't checked it out yet, click here... it's crazy.

Near the end of our interview we asked Adam about the rumors surrounding his upcoming role in the now-delayed Steven Spielberg project The Trial of the Chicago 7, about the 1968 trial of Vietnam war protestors Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale, John Froines, Tom Hayden, Lee Weiner, and David Dellinger. After seeing Arkin's name in various reports alongside an unconfirmed dream cast that includes the likes of Will Smith, Kevin Spacey, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Colin Hanks, Taye Diggs, Jeff Daniels, and Sacha Baron Cohen, we were glad Arkin was finally able to clear the air surrounding his involvement in the project.

First, a little back story. Back in January, speculation spread around the internet about the potential Chicago 7 cast after a Vanity Fair journalist spotted headshots and information pertaining to Chicago 7 while on a visit to Amblin Entertainment for a piece on Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The piece, which appeared in Vanity Fair, indicated that materials related to Chicago 7 were spotted, which then sparked a series of casting rumors that spread across the globe via the info highway. As well, there was no official word at the time that Steven Spielberg was even attached to the project.

As for the straight story on Adam Arkin's involvement, here's how he explained it from his side of the fence...

"That was a rumor, a really rampant rumor that is not indicative of anything I know that is set in stone. My understanding is that it started because of a Vanity Fair reporter who had access to Steven Spielberg’s office. And was left alone for a moment and took the liberty to kind of make note of stuff that he saw in the office. Part of what he saw in the office was a group of head shots and a list of casting ideas and my understanding is that my name was on that list as a possible idea. Now, on the basis of that, that story got leaked even before it made it to publication and the next thing you knew everybody was referencing this list that included Will Smith and a number of other, much bigger, stars than me. It was very good company to be in, but unfortunately it’s still only a rumor. I, of course, had my manager call Spielberg’s casting people as quickly as I could to find out how much weight any of it had. They would only confirm that I was in fact on a list, but it was way premature for anybody to be announcing a cast."

When asked how he felt about his name being attached and whether he even wanted to be in the project, Arkin elaborated, "Hey, I would give my right arm to be involved with it. But right now, your guess is as good as mine."