Ellen Page, Julianne Moore to star in gay rights film
By Nick Levine
Julianne Moore and Ellen Page are to star in a forthcoming indie film based on a real-life gay rights story.
Titled Freeheld, the indie drama is based on the 2007 Oscar-winning documentary short of the same name, and will tell the story of Laurel Hester, a New Jersey police detective who became terminally ill and was prevented by government officials from assigning her pension rights to her lesbian partner Stacie Andree.
Moore will play Hester opposite Page as Andree, while Zach Galifianakis will appear in a supporting role as an LGBT Equality activist.
Another key role – that of Dane Wells, a police colleague of Hester’s who became instrumental in fighting for the same-sex couple’s rights – has yet to be cast.
The film has a script by Ron Nyswaner, who is best known for penning the screenplay to 1993’s Philadelphia and is openly gay. Peter Sollett (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist) will direct and shooting is due to start this summer, says The Hollywood Reporter.
Page, 26, revealed she is gay on Friday (February 14) in a candid and inspiring speech at the Human Rights’ Campaign’s Time to Thrive conference in Las Vegas.