‘Milk’ writer Dustin Lance Black unveils LGBT rights TV series

Oscar-winning ‘Milk’ writer Dustin Lance Black is reuniting with the film’s director for a new LGBT rights miniseries.

The Hollywood screenwriter picked up an Academy Award for the 2008 biopic, which chronicled the life of assassinated gay rights hero Harvey Milk.

Nearly a decade on from the film’s success, ABC has greenlit another LGBT project from Black – eight-party miniseries ‘When We Rise’.

Black will re-unite with the film’s director Gus Van Sant for the miniseries, while Milk producer Bruce Cohen will serve as executive producer alongside Laurence Mark.

Variety reports: “‘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 US 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.”

The gossip sites notes the project is an “important passion project” for Black, and has been in development for over two years before finally being greenlit for production this week.
It marks another return to LGBT rights for Black, who has been a prominent equality campaigner both in real life and through his work.

After years fighting for the right to marry, Black announced his engagement to Olympic diver Tom Daley earlier this year – though the pair aren’t planning a wedding just yet.

A planned transmission date for the project is yet to be announced.

• Nov 29 2023

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