Producers of the upcoming ABC
miniseries about the gay rights movement offered an initial teaser of
what audiences can expect in February.
Based on the novel of the same name by
activist Cleve Jones and a script by Dustin Lance Black (Milk),
When We Rise is an eight-hour miniseries that “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 U.S. Civil Rights movement from its turbulent
infancy in the 20th century to the once unfathomable
successes of today.”
When We Rise stars Guy Pearce as
Cleve Jones, Mary-Louise Parker as women's rights activist Roma Guy,
Rachel Griffiths as Roma's wife, Whoopi Goldberg as the first openly
gay employee of the San Francisco Health Department, Rosie O'Donnell
as Daughters of Bilitis co-founder Del Martin, Denis O'Hare as an
openly gay party organizer and David Hyde Pierce as Dr. Jones, Cleve
Jones' father.
Gus Van Sant (Drug Store Cowboy,
Milk) will direct the series' first two hours. Other parts
will be directed by Dee Rees, Thomas Schlamme and Dustin Lance Black.
In development at ABC for more than two
years, When We Rise is expected to debut in February.