Actors Troye Sivan and Xavier Dolan have joined the cast of Boy Erased.
The gay conversion drama based on Garrard Conley’s autobiography is being adapted into a film by Australian actor / director Joel Edgerton.
Conley documented his experience of attending Love in Action, an group that attempts to change LGBT people into heterosexuals. The son of a Baptist pastor in a conservative small Arkansas town, Conley was outed to his parents when he was nineteen.
He was sent to a church-supported conversion therapy program that purports to “cure” homosexuality. At the end of the 12-step program Conley was even more adamant about his sexuality.
The lead role will be played by Lucas Hedges, who garnered critical acclaim for his role in Manchester By Sea. Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe will play his parents.
The newest cast additions include Sivan and Dolan alongside acclaimed actress Cherry Jones and Red Hot Chilli Pepper’s member Flea. As well directing the film, Edgerton will also play a role.
Sivan has become famous around the globe as a video blogger and musician, but it was acting that first garnered him attention. He played the younger version of Hugh Jackman’s character in Wolverine and starred in the Spud trilogy of films from his native South Africa.
French Canadian actor/director Xavier Dolan is best known for his films including Heartbeats and I Killed My Mother.
Recently he’s been spending more time working as a director. His next film The Death and Life of John F. Donovan will be his English-language debut. It stars Kit Harrington, Jessica Chastain, Natalie Portman, Bella Thorne, Kathy Bates and Susan Sarandon.
Boy Erased is expected to be in cinemas in 2018.
OIP Staff
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