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Sean Penn's gay role
Sep 10, 2007, 13:00 GMT
Sean Penn is set to play the first openly gay US politician in a new movie.
The 'Mystic River' actor is being lined up for the role of Harvey Milk in director Gus Van Sant's thriller, set in the 1970s.
Matt Damon is in talks to portray Dan White, the man who assassinated Milk.
White shot San Francisco city supervisor Milk and the city's Mayor, George Moscone, in 1978. He was jailed for five years for the murders, but committed suicide in 1985.
The film will be based on author Randy Shilts' 1982 biography of Milk, 'The Mayor of Castro Street'.
Milk was the first high-profile elected US official to be open about his homosexuality, and campaigned vociferously for gay rights.
Should Penn take the role, it will be the first time the 47-year-old star has portrayed a gay character on screen.
'Usual Suspects' director Bryan Singer is also believed to be planning a rival project on Milk's life, but has been delayed by his commitment to directing a sequel to 'Superman Returns'.
Van Sant's film is expected to go into production this December.
(C) BANG Media International
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