Free State of Jones
For justice. For pride. For freedom.
Country
Production
Budget
$50 000 000
Box office
$25 035 950
Director
Actors
Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali, Keri Russell, Jacob Lofland, Sean Bridgers, Brad Carter, Jane McNeill, Gary Grubbs, Christopher Berry
All actors and roles (10)
All actors and roles (10)
Scenario
Producer
Jon Kilik, Scott Stuber, Gary Ross, Oren Aviv, Robert Simonds, Robin Bissell, Wang Zhonglei, Stuart Ford, Wang Zhongjun, Michael Bassick
Camera operator
Composer
Artist
Audition
Debra Zane, Meagan Lewis
Editing
Short description
In 1863, Mississippi farmer Newt Knight serves as a medic for the Confederate Army. Opposed to slavery, Knight would rather help the wounded than fight the Union. After his nephew dies in battle, Newt returns home to Jones County to safeguard his family but is soon branded an outlaw deserter. Forced to flee, he finds refuge with a group of runaway slaves hiding out in the swamps. Forging an alliance with the slaves and other farmers, Knight leads a rebellion that would forever change history.
What's left behind the scenes
- Thomas Murphy and Christopher Berry appeared together in Steve McQueen's historical drama '12 Years a Slave' (2013).
- A certain Christopher David McKnight appeared in the film's crowd scenes; he is a descendant of Newt Knight, the role of whom was played by Matthew McConaughey. Knight was McKnight's great-great-great-grandfather. A resident of Lake Charles, Louisiana, McKnight heard about the filming of the movie and applied to be an extra.
- Historian Rudy Leverett, author of “Legend of the Free State Jones,” who attempted to downplay the rebellion and portray Newton Knight as a common bandit, is the great-great-grandson of Amos McLemore, a Confederate Army major tasked with capturing Knight and his followers. McLemore fell by Knight’s hand.
- This is the second joint project between Matthew McConaughey and Jacob Lofland after Jeff Nichols’ drama 'Mud' (2012).
- The battle scenes were filmed in Covington, Louisiana.
- Victoria Burnham, the author of the novel "Free State of Jones: The Longest Civil War in Mississippi," played the role of a nurse in the film. She is the one sitting in the medical tent near the soldier with a shoulder wound, reading Psalm 26 (27 in Masoretic numbering).
- A certain Christopher David McNight, a descendant of Newton Knight, the role played by Matthew McConaughey, appeared in the mass scenes of the film. Knight was McNight's great-great-great-grandfather. McNight, a resident of Lake Charles, Louisiana, heard about the film's shooting and applied to be an extra.
- One of the producers once admitted in an interview that they initially wanted Steve Gomer ('Barney's Great Adventure', 1998) to direct the film, but he had to decline due to commitments to other projects.
- Brendan Gleeson was supposed to appear in a cameo role in the film, but he was unable to participate in the filming due to commitments to other projects.
- Keri Russell and Christopher Berry appeared together in Matt Reeves' sci-fi action film 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' (2014).
- Brendan Gleeson was intended to appear in a supporting role in the film, but he was unable to participate in the filming due to commitments to other projects.
- Actor Kensley Kice is the only African American native of Soso (Jones County, Mississippi) who is a descendant of Newton Knight. He played one of the soldiers in the film. By sheer chance, Kice managed to talk to director Gary Ross after filming the battle scene. Moreover, fate brought him together with Matthew McConaughey during a break in filming, to whom Kice told why it was so important for him to star in this film – it's a story about his family and his homeland.
- One of the producers once admitted in an interview that they initially wanted Steve Homer ("The Incredible Adventures of Barney the Dinosaur", 1998) to direct the film, but he had to decline due to commitments to other projects.
- The floor in the medical tent was covered in blood. The fake blood was diluted with water to increase the coverage area and make the floor look more slippery. Filming had to be done without delay, as the floorboards quickly absorbed the diluted mixture.
- The filmmakers received 7,000 photos and resumes from people wanting to participate as extras.
- One of the producers stated in an interview that at one point he considered naming the film “Free State of Randy,” but ultimately decided that “Free State of Jones” sounded better.
- Actor Kensley Keys is the only African American native of Soso (Jones County, Mississippi) who is a descendant of Newton Knight. He played one of the soldiers in the film. By chance, Keys managed to speak with director Gary Ross after filming the battle scene. Moreover, he was similarly connected with Matthew McConaughey during a break in filming, to whom Keys explained why it was so important for him to appear in the film—it’s a story about his family and his hometown.
- Actor Kensley Keez is the only African American from Soso (Jones County, Mississippi) who is a descendant of Newton Knight. He played one of the soldiers in the film. By a stroke of luck, Keez managed to speak with director Gary Ross after the filming of a battle scene. Furthermore, chance similarly brought him together with Matthew McConaughey during a break in filming, to whom Keez explained why it was so important for him to appear in this movie—it is a story about his family and his homeland.
- Keri Russell and Christopher Berry starred together in Matt Reeves' science fiction action film "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" (2014).
- Yvonne Smith, a descendant of Newton Knight, appeared as an extra in the film.
- In 2016, a document was discovered in the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, which was a request from Newton Knight to include him and his men in the Army of the Potomac. The document is dated 1864. Its discovery serves as confirmation of Knight’s claims.
- Thomas Murphy and Christopher Berry starred together in Steve McQueen's historical drama "12 Years a Slave" (2013).
- The front doors of the Jones County Sheriff's Department vehicles are labeled “Free State of Jones”.
Similar movies
8.5/10
8.4/10
8.4/10
8.4/10
8.4/10
8.2/10
8.2/10
8.2/10
8.2/10
8.2/10
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
