Ellen Page and Julianne Moore LGBT Rights Drama Freeheld Gets Picked Up

Freeheld may still be in post-production, but the drama starring Julianne Moore and Ellen Page is already making waves. Though only 12 minutes were screened for execs, many high-profile companies including Focus Features, Sony Pictures, and Netflix attempted to win the rights for distribution. Ultimately, Lionsgate walked away successful after a night-long bidding war. 

Freeheld tells the true story of Laurel Hester (played by Moore), a lesbian police officer with cancer who fights government officials for equal rights so her pension benefits can go to her partner, Stacie Andree (played by Page). It co-stars Steve Carell, Michael Shannon and Luke Grimes, and is directed by Peter Sollet with a script by Ron Nyswayner. 

Adding to the film's enticement, Julianne Moore is a strong contender for the this year's Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Still Alice, and Carell is nominated for his work in Foxcatcher. Freeheld is certainly in the right hands, considering Ellen Page is also a producer and has been developing it as a passion project for several years, and we can't wait to see what she and Julianne Moore bring to this important project.