Earlier today, Eugene Jarecki’s anticipated documentary, The Six Billion Dollar Man, has been unexpectedly withdrawn from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The decision announced just over a month before the festival’s opening, stems from significant recent developments in Julian Assange’s story that the filmmaker insists must be incorporated to ensure the documentary’s completeness.

In a statement released on December 20, Jarecki expressed his deep regret while emphasizing the importance of presenting a finished film that accurately reflects the evolving narrative. “The truth is, significant recent and unexpected developments have emerged at the heart of the story which, if not incorporated in the version for Sundance, would not represent a finished film,” he explained. “Sundance has shaped my career and been a cornerstone of my journey—only something of this magnitude could make me withdraw.”

The Six Billion Dollar Man was set to premiere as a Special Screening at Sundance.