Well, here’s reminder in case you forgot about this one—it’s been a few years. Way back in 2010, Ellen Page signed up to star in the feature film adaptation of the Oscar winning documentary short “Freeheld,” with Peter Sollett (“Raising Victor Vargas,” “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist“) coming on to direct in 2012. And then nothing was heard of the project again, but today two big names are kicking it back to life.
Julianne Moore and Zach Galifianakis have come aboard the drama, that has been penned by Ron Nyswaner (“Philadelphia,” “The Painted Veil“). The film will follow Stace Andree (Page), a woman who was denied the pension benefits of her longtime female partner and New Jersey police detective Laurel Hester (Moore) when the latter became terminally ill. The story chronicles the pair’s legal battle for the benefits to be assigned to Laurel’s partner, with Galifianakis slotted as activist Steve Goldstein.
Casting is still underway on the movie, though it looks like things are gearing up to shoot soon. And given that the material has already secured an Oscar, this one certainly has all kinds of potential to be another powerful telling of the tale. [THR]