Ryan Corr, Craig Stott, Anthony LaPaglia, Guy Pearce and Kerry Fox head the cast in Holding the Man, Neil Armfield’s love story/drama based on Tommy Murphy’s acclaimed stage play.
Corr and Stott will portray Timothy Conigrave and John Caleo, who met and fell in love while teenagers at their all-boys high school.
John was captain of the football team, Tim an aspiring actor playing a minor part in Romeo and Juliet. Their romance endured for 15 years despite separations, discrimination, temptations, jealousies and losses. It ended with both men's deaths from AIDS-related complications.
Shooting starts in Melbourne next week, produced by Goalpost Pictures’ Kylie du Fresne (The Sapphires). Murphy adapted Tim’s book for the screen.
LaPaglia and Camilla Ah Kin are cast as John’s parents Bob and Lois and Guy Pearce and Kerry Fox are Tim’s parents Dick and Mary-Gert.
Corr recently worked in Russell Crowe’s The Water Diviner and in the BBC First production Banished, created by Jimmy McGovern.
The Los Angeles-based Stott is best known for his roles in the TV series East of Everything and in Geoffrey Wright’s adaptation of Macbeth, which starred Sam Worthington.
“The success of Tim Conigrave’s book and Tommy Murphy’s stage play proves that this is a love story that speaks across generations, sexualities and cultures,” said du Fresne.
Transmission Films will distribute in Australia. Co-founders Richard Payten and Andrew Mackie described the film as a “love story that will move, enthral and surprise a broad audience.”
International sales agent Tristan Whalley of Goalpost Film will introduce the project to buyers at this month's Toronto International Film Festival.
The investors include Screen Australia, Screen Victoria, Screen NSW and private investor Cameron Huang.