TWC

The Weinstein Company plans to challenge the Motion Picture Association of America’s (MPAA) R-rating for the transgender family drama “3 Generations,” the studio announced Thursday.

Directed by Gaby Dellal and distributed by The Weinstein Company, “3 Generations” stars Elle Fanning as a transgender teenage boy named Ray. Naomi Watts plays his mother, and Susan Sarandon plays his grandmother, who is a lesbian. The film was previously titled “About Ray.”

The MPAA rated the film “R” due to language including sexual references.

Also Read: Elle Fanning Transgender Drama '3 Generations' Acquired for $6 Million by Weinstein Co at Cannes (Updated)

The Weinstein Company has enlisted Hollywood lawyer David Boies. Boies has consulted on numerous human rights issues for TWC including the censorship of Oscar-nominated film “Carol,” as well as the previous protest of the MPAA’s rating of the documentary “Bully.” “Bully” initially received an R-rating from the MPAA for similar reasons but eventually brought its rating down to PG-13.

“This film is a beautiful and touching story about family and identity. It is important for teenagers to see it and the ‘R’ Rating doesn’t reflect today’s society,” said executive producer Watts. “‘3 Generations’ doesn’t have a bad bone in its body, it’s an expression of love, acceptance, strength, and honesty, values that could not be more necessary right now.”

Also Read: 3 Generations, 1 Dysfunctional Family - How 'The Discoverers' Came to Life (Guest Blog)

TWC’s co-chairman Harvey Weinstein commented, “Gaby, Naomi, Susan and Elle made this movie to share its message of acceptance and inclusion with all generations. The fact that an ‘R’ rating would prevent high school students from seeing this film would truly be a travesty. The MPAA and I were able to come to an agreement on ‘Bully’ and I am confident that we will be able to do so again.”

In response, Chris Ortman, MPAA spokesperson, told TheWrap, “Under the Classifications and Ratings Administration (CARA) rules, the ratings board and appeals board maintain confidentiality and do not comment publicly about the process for movies under review.”

He added, “Any filmmaker who objects to the given rating can choose to go to the appeals board.”

9 Cisgender Actors Playing Transgender Characters in Film (Photos)

Hilary Swank in "Boys Don't Cry" (1999)
Swank plays real-life Brandon Teena, an American trans man who is beaten, raped and murdered by men after they discover he is transgender.
Fox Searchlight
Felicity Huffman in "Transamerica" (2005)
Huffman played a transgender woman who tried to reconnect with her estranged son, played by Kevin Zegers.
The Weinstein Company
Jared Leto in "Dallas Buyers Club" (2013)
Leto starred as an HIV positive, transgender woman in the film for which he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2014.
Focus Features
Chris Sarandon in "Dog Day Afternoon" (1975)
Sarandon played a pre-operative transsexual in the film, for which he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
Warner Bros.
Tom Wilkinson in "Normal" (2003)
Wilkinson stars as Applewood, who after 25 years of marriage shocks his wife (Jessica Lange) when he tells her he wants to transition into a woman. He renames himself Ruth.
John Cameron Mitchell in "Hedwig & The Angry Inch" (2001)
Mitchell played Hansel Schmidt, an East German man who falls in love with an American man and they decide to marry so he can escape East Germany. However, the couple needs to consist of a man and a woman, so Schmidt undergoes gender reassignment surgery, but it gets botched.
New Line Cinema
John Lithgow in "The World According to Garp" (1982)
Lithgow played Roberta Muldoon, a former football player who transitions after being pro.
Warner Bros.
Jaye Davidson in "The Crying Game" (1992)
The now retired actor played trans woman Dil in the film, for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Miramax Films
Lee Pace in "Soldier's Girl" (2003)
Pace starred as Calpernia Addams in the film, based on a true story. Addams came out as a transgender woman during her last year in the military.
Showtime

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In light of Eddie Redmayne playing Lili Elbe, the first transgender woman to successful receive sex reassignment surgery, in “The Danish Girl,” TheWrap takes a look at 9 other actors who have taken on transgender roles

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