Snowden trailer: Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as NSA whistleblower in Oliver Stone's new film

The film also stars Nicolas Cage, Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Tom Wilkinson, Rhys Ifans, Joely Richardson, Scott Eastwood, and Timothy Olyphant.

It was only a matter of time until Hollywood turned Edward Snowden's life into a movie; so thanks to Oliver Stone for getting that done with, and out of the way.

The first trailer for Snowden has dropped; which sees Joseph Gordon-Levitt play the titular NSA whistleblower. Initially employed by the CIA after his discharge from the military, Snowden was later assigned to an NSA facility, leading to what's now become one of the most historically significant instances of whistleblowing ever to take place; one which blew open the doors of the US' surveillance program, and which changed our attitudes to privacy forever.

And whilst Snowden's work with the historical has thrown up some all-time classics, the director hasn't been on the hottest streak of later with the likes of Savages and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps; with this first glimpse at Snowden doing little to raise confidence here.

Though the studio (via ScreenDaily) seem keen for an awards season campaign; all this trailer teases is gratingly on-the-nose thriller visuals and enforced paranoia - because audiences only ever understand privacy issues if you tell them the NSA is watching them have sex through their webcam. Then there's that slightly goofy, deep-toned impersonation from Gordon-Levitt going on.

Plus, Nic Cage turns up so loudly and so suddenly, it feels like one of those prank jumpscares a bad friend would think was hilarious. The film also stars Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Tom Wilkinson, Rhys Ifans, Joely Richardson, Scott Eastwood, and Timothy Olyphant.

Snowden hits US theatres 16 September; with no UK release date announced.