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Pride, the Film About UK Gay Activists & Miners, May Become a Musical
Pride, a new film dramatizing the true story of British LGBT activists who raised money to help families of striking miners, may be headed for the stage.
Speculation had already begun since Scott Rudin has been promoting early screenings of the film in New York City. Now, speaking at a recent London screening, Pride screenwriter Stephen Beresford revealed that he had discussed a possible musical adaptation with Pride director Matthew Warchus during a train ride, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"[Warchus] came up with nine reasons why we shouldn't do it, but by the end of the journey we had turned them into reasons why we should," said Beresford, who added that talks are already underway with West End producers.
"It's the summer of 1984 -- Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is on strike," read press notes about the British film. "At the Gay Pride March in London, a group of gay and lesbian activists decides to raise money to support the families of the striking miners. But there is a problem. The Union seems embarrassed to receive their support. But the activists are not deterred. They decide to ignore the Union and go direct to the miners. They identify a mining village in deepest Wales and set off in a mini bus to make their donation in person. And so begins the extraordinary story of two seemingly alien communities who form a surprising and ultimately triumphant partnership."
Pride, which was released Friday in the U.K, will open September 26 in U.S. theaters. The film premiered at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Queer Palm award. The cast includes Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Paddy Considine, George McKay, and Andrew Scott.
The 1984 U.K. miners' strike was also the setting of the film Billy Elliot, which was later adapted into a successful musical.
Warchus won a Tony Award for his direction of God of Carnage. He also received Tony nominations for his work on Art, True West, Boeing-Boeing, The Norman Conquests,and Matilda.
Watch the Pride trailer below.
