Surprise. "Freeheld" Back On. Now With Julianne Moore!
Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 5:00PM You're forgiven if you've long since forgotten that Ellen Page was trying to get a feature version of the Oscar winning documentary short Freeheld (2007) off the ground. She first tried in 2008, shortly after her rise to fame with Juno (2007). The film, based on a true story, is about a lesbian couple, the young Stacie (Page) and her older police detective partner Laurel Hester (Moore) who receive devastating news: Laurel is terminally ill and the government won't let her assign her pension benefits to Stacie. At the time this was first announced it looked like a great Oscar project for Page but nothing ever came of. The good news: It's back on!
But the news gets even better...
Julianne Moore is on board to play Laurel so maybe she's finally got her Oscar role. Not that Oscar is the most important thing here. The important thing is tell good stories about women with great actresses playing them. Curiously several of Julianne's roles have been gay or gay-adjacent (Far From Heaven, The Hours, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, The Kids Are All Right, Chloe, A Single Man, Savage Grace, Psycho). If Freeheld is anywhere near as good as The Kids Are All Right, The Hours, or Far From Heaven, her gayest and most Oscar celebrated films, we're in for such a treat.
The news gets even better.
Peter Sollett, who directed the little-seen but totally amazing gem Raising Victor Vargas (2002) and later the slightly more seen but still underappreciated Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008) and nothing since (seriously is he waiting tables?) will direct.
The news gets even better.
Since the project now has three stars (Zach Galifianakis will play an activist) it looks like it is really going to happen and aims to start production this summer.
UPDATE 02/15: THE NEWS JUST GOT BEST
Ellen Page came out as a gay woman on Valentine's Day
Reader Comments (18)
Hooray!
Now you have me thinking about Ari Graynor WHERE IS ARI GRAYNOR????
This just made my day, my week, and my year.
Who's gonna campaign supporting? Page, I Think?
That's so exciting! Give her the Oscar already!
Victor Vargas is so good!
Very good news. Looks like an interesting project with great potential.
JA: Ari Graynor, like Greta Gerwig, is getting some of that sweet, sweet, CBS comedy money. She's set to star in a TV version of the Cameron Diaz vehicle "Bad Teacher." Miss her. :(
I am SO READY for this movie! I hope it doesn't experience any more setbacks.
cal roth - Really? Already? Come on, pal.
(Though the answer to your question is probably yes.)
Really great news all around. I remember first hearing about this years ago and was disappointed that it never came to be. Sounds like an excellent vehicle for both actresses, though now I kinda can't stop thinking about a version with Brie Larson in Page's role, based solely on that picture of the actual couple.
I haven't seen Nick & Nora, but I LOVE Raising Victor Vargas so I'm excited to see what Sollet can do with this material as well.
Joy!
Julianne Moore, an indie with tricky-to-sell- subject matter getting off the ground, Ellen Page, Julianne Moore, non-lazy director attached, fascinating storyline, Julianne. Moore.
There are so many things about this story that make me happy.
This sounds great!
Sounds too good to be true. First CAROL, now this. Can't wait for both of them.
And all fingers crossed for Julianne: she has Cronenberg, Mockingjay, Still Alice, Maggie's plan and now this amazing project coming on her way. SHE HAS TO WIN THAT FUCKING OSCAR sooner or later.
I thought the woman who Ellen Page is playing was Shailene Woodley when I first saw the pic.
Zach Galifianakis in prestige bait. No one's getting potential "It's Kind of a Funny Story" flashbacks?
Glad Julianne has some interesting stuff coming up, because I don't know what the heck she's doing in that movie with Bad Cop/Good Cop and Lady Mary.
Volvagia -- oh yeah. oopsie.