Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black is reteaming with 'Milk' director Gus van Sant in period piece 'When We Rise'.
- Dec 23, 2015
AceShowbiz - ABC has ordered an eight-hour miniseries about gay rights from "Milk" writer Dustin Lance Black. The project, titled "When We Rise", will reunite him with Gus Van Sant who is set to direct the first two-hour episode.
Per Variety, "When We Rise"chronicles the personal and political struggles, set-backs and triumphs of a diverse family of LGBT men and women who helped pioneer one of the last legs of the U.S. Civil Rights movement from its turbulent infancy in the 20th century to the once unfathomable successes of today. The period piece tells the history of the gay rights movement, starting with the Stonewall Riots in 1969.
Black, who is openly gay and is engaged to Olympian diver Tom Daley, has long fought for marriage equality and gay rights. He wore a White Knot to the 81st Academy Awards ceremony as a symbol of solidarity with the marriage equality movement.
The miniseries' development dated back two years ago but now that Van Sant is on board, the project is being fast-tracked for production. Besides writing, Black is also exec producing the show for ABC along with Laurence Mark and Bruce Cohen.
