ABC has set its star-studded cast for Dustin Lance Black's LGBT limited series When We Rise.
When We Rise chronicles the personal and political struggles, setbacks 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.
Guy Pearce (Memento, L.A. Confidential) will star as LGBT activist Cleve Jones. Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds, Angels in America) is set as women's rights leader Roma Guy and Rachel Griffiths (Brothers and Sisters, Six Feet Under) will portray her wife, social justice activist Diane.
Also joining the cast are Austin McKenzie (Spring Awakening) who will take on the younger version of Cleve Jones; Emily Skeggs (Fun Home) as the younger Roma Guy, newcomer Jonathan Majors as the younger Ken Jones and Fiona Dourif (The Master) as the younger Diane. Still to be cast are African-American community organizer Ken Jones and transgender activist Cecelia Chung.
The drama is written and created by Black, who won an Oscar for penning the screenplay for the Harvey Milk biopic Milk. The ABC Studios entry will be exec produced by Laurence Mark and Bruce Cohen, the latter of whom produced Milk. Gus Van Sant, who earned an Oscar nomination for directing Milk, will helm the two-hour series premiere of the seven-episode limited series and also serve as an exec producer on the mini, which was first announced in July 2013.
When We Rise chronicles the personal and political struggles, setbacks 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.
Guy Pearce (Memento, L.A. Confidential) will star as LGBT activist Cleve Jones. Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds, Angels in America) is set as women's rights leader Roma Guy and Rachel Griffiths (Brothers and Sisters, Six Feet Under) will portray her wife, social justice activist Diane.
Also joining the cast are Austin McKenzie (Spring Awakening) who will take on the younger version of Cleve Jones; Emily Skeggs (Fun Home) as the younger Roma Guy, newcomer Jonathan Majors as the younger Ken Jones and Fiona Dourif (The Master) as the younger Diane. Still to be cast are African-American community organizer Ken Jones and transgender activist Cecelia Chung.
The drama is written and created by Black, who won an Oscar for penning the screenplay for the Harvey Milk biopic Milk. The ABC Studios entry will be exec produced by Laurence Mark and Bruce Cohen, the latter of whom produced Milk. Gus Van Sant, who earned an Oscar nomination for directing Milk, will helm the two-hour series premiere of the seven-episode limited series and also serve as an exec producer on the mini, which was first announced in July 2013.
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