Roland Emmerich's upcpming film Stonewall is set to release September 25.
The film will cover the 1969 riots in New York City in which the LGBT community protested police. The riots are considered a prime beginning for the movement towards gay rights.
The film was scripted by Jon Robin Baitz. According to Variety, the story is set at the Stonewall Inn where the rage began. The commotion was among gays, lesbians, and drag queens as a response to police harassment and discrimination.
“I was always interested and passionate about telling this important story, but I feel it has never been more timely than right now,” Emmerich said.
Stonewall was shot in Montreal. The set is very similar to Greenwich Village which was reconstructed for the movie.
Actors include Jeremy Irvine, Jonatahan Rhys Meyers, Ron Perlman, and Johnny Beauchamp. Producers are Emmerich, Michael Fossat, Marc Frydman, and Carsten Lorenz. Stars such as Joey King, Karl Glusman, and Vladimir Alexis will also act in the film.
“It was the first time gay people said ‘Enough!’ They didn’t do it with leaflets or meetings, they took beer bottles and threw them at cops. Many pivotal political moments have been born by violence,” director Emmerich told Variety.
“What struck me was that there was a story in there, which I felt had an important message – it’s the people who had the least to lose who did the fighting, not the politically active people,” Emmerich added. “It was the kids that went to this club that consisted of hustlers and Scare Queens, and all kinds of people that you think would never resist the police, and they did it.”
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