Joel Edgerton Drama ‘Boy Erased’ Acquired by Focus Features

Film stars Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe and Lucas Hedges

Joel Edgerton
Getty Images

Focus Features acquired the worldwide rights to “Boy Erased,” written and directed by Joel Edgerton and starring Nicole Kidman, Lucas Hedges and Russell Crowe.

The movie will be produced by Anonymous Content and is set to begin production this fall. It will be based on the book “Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith, and Family” by Garrard Conley.

The film will tell the story of Jared (played by Hedges), the son of a Baptist pastor in a small American town who is outed by his parents (Kidman and Crowe) at the age of 19. He is quickly pressured into attending a gay conversion therapy program, or else he will be shunned by the community surrounding him.

“I’m excited to work with an ensemble of actors, seasoned and new, to bring Garrard’s story to the screen,” Edgerton said in a statement. “I think Focus is the perfect partner on this, and I will always thank Garrard for trusting my passion for his life story. I can’t think of a better reason to get behind the camera again.”

Edgerton and Anonymous Content’s Kerry Kohansky-Roberts and Steve Golin will produce “Boy Erased.” Rebecca Yeldham, Ann Ruark, and Anonymous Content’s Kim Hodgert and Tony Lipp will executive produce. Focus’ President of Production Josh McLaughlin will oversee the film for Focus.

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“Garrard’s story is both timely and timeless, both personal and universal,” said Focus Chairman Peter Kujawski. “It is a story which will not only deeply move people, but one that we hope will change outlooks. We are thrilled to work once again with Joel, and with the Anonymous Content team.  These filmmakers’ passion for this heart-rending project speaks to all of us at Focus, and to why we make the movies we do.”

“Boy Erased” was first published last year. Edgerton wrote the screenplay adaptation, and the film will be his second feature as a director following “The Gift” which earned him a Directors Guild of America Award nomination.

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