'Kill the Messenger' star Jeremy Renner wants film to create dialogue

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Jeremy Renner takes on the role of a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist in the new dramatic thriller, "Kill the Messenger."

The film takes viewers back to the mid-1990s. Renner plays real-life journalist Gary Webb.

Webb published a story claiming the CIA helped import massive amounts of cocaine into the U.S., using profits from street sales to help arm contra rebels in Nicaragua.

Webb's reporting generated plenty of controversy and took a toll on his career, his family and his finances. Webb died a decade ago from two gunshots to the head. His death was ruled a suicide.

"Easily this movie could have been on a soap box and said like, 'oh, CIA's bad or government's bad, and he didn't kill himself, it's a conspiracy. How can you shoot yourself twice?' You know, it's just layered in," Renner said.

Renner, who is also one of the film's producers, found parallels between what it's like making films and reporting.

"As filmmakers, just like in journalism, I think when it's good that you show both sides and let the audience or the reader or come up with their own opinion. Empower the reader of their own damn opinion, just like the moviegoer. So that's what I hope this movie does: It gets people talking," Renner said.

Renner hopes some dialogue will begin after the movie ends.

"And if it doesn't give you the answers, I think that's even better," he said.

"Kill the Messenger" is rated R and is in theaters now.