Hollywood heavyweight Chris Weitz has recently undergone negotiations to adapt 21 Years to Midnight, based on the upcoming gay rights book of the same name.
Weitz had previously written the Star Wars spinoff, Rogue One, as well as a modern take on Disney’s Cinderella. Now he is back in business with Debbie Cenzipper’s nonfiction book that tells the story of Obergefell v. Hodges in the fight for same-sex marriage. The case is famous for helping lead to the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States.
21 Years to Midnight tells the true story of Jim Obergefell (lead plaintiff) and the late John Arthur, his partner. Cenzipper had written the book having known Obergefell for roughly 20 years.
When the item was up for optioning in 2015, it caused a stir among the public and Fox 2000 eventually obtained the rights to the story. The studio also acquired the plaintiff’s life rights and those of Al Gerhardstein, his attorney. The book itself, however, will not be published until June 2016 according to William Morrow, a publisher of HarperCollins.
Weitz generally works as a writer, director and producer, prompting him to become a reliable source in Hollywood. In fact, he is also scheduled to rewrite The Mountain Between Us for Fox 2000, among other projects. His work has led to him being one of the most in-demand screenwriters, with previous works like Rogue One elevating his status.
He recently traveled somewhere along the Southern Hemisphere to get The Mountain Between Us in order, reportedly to a suitable setting where it will be winter with heavy snow.
No release date has yet been projected by the studio.