When We Rise - More Cast Added To Miniseries

The casting for When We Rise really does keep getting more and more impressive.

Whoopi Goldberg whose recent TV appearances have included voiceover work for Once Upon A Time In Wonderland and appearances on shows such as Glee and Blue Bloods has bagged a recurring role in the seven part miniseries. Goldberg will take on the role of Pat Norman, the first openly gay employee of the San Francisco Health Department.

Rosie O'Donnell, recently seen in a guest appearance in the second season of Empire will be taking on the role of Del Martin, co-founder of the first Lesbian organization in the country.

Denis O'Hare, best known for his roles on True Blood and American Horror Story will be playing the role of Jim Foster, openly gay Democratic party organizer. Filling out the cast includes Frasier's David Hyde Pierce as Dr. Jones the father of Guy Pierce's character, Cleve, while Ivory Aquino is transgender activist Cecilia Chung and Michael K. Williams will play African American Community Organizer Ken Jones.

Press Release: http://www.out.com/television/2016/4/27/whoopi-goldberg-and-rosie-odonnell-join-abcs-gay-miniseries-when-we-rise

When We Rise is currently filming and is rumoured to be airing on ABC from 2017.

When We Rise - Further Casting Announced

While we're still a bit off this seven part miniseries from Dustin Lance Black and Gus Van Sant from airing on ABC, more casting news has surfaced for the upcoming, When We Rise.

Kevin McHale, best known for his role as Artie Abrams in six seasons of musical drama Glee and for presenting E4 show, Virtually Famous will be taking on the recurring role of AIDS activist, Bobbi Campbell. However, McHale isn't the only former actor from a Ryan Murphy show that will appear in this miniseries.

Dylan Walsh, best known for his roles in both Nip/Tuck and Unforgettable has also scored a recurring role in the miniseries. Walsh will take on the role of Dr. Marcus Conant, a role based on leading American dermatologist Conant, a pioneer in the diagnosis and treatment of AIDS.

Also confirmed for a role in the miniseries, via his own Twitter and Instagram accounts is Rafael De La Fuente. The Empire hunk posted a script page where it appears he'll be playing a character named Ricardo but whether the character is a regular or recurring, I'm not yet sure. I'll post more spoiler information as it becomes available.

Press Release: http://deadline.com/2016/04/when-we-rise-kevin-mchale-dylan-walsh-cast-abc-lgbt-rights-miniseries-1201734520/
RDLF's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BEHJY_Wt2_m/

When We Rise is currently in production and will air later this year on ABC.

When We Rise - Cast Announcement

While there are still a few more members to be confirmed for Dustin Lance Black's LGBT rights miniseries, When We Rise for ABC, the casting announced so far though is impressive.

Best known for her roles in The West Wing, Weeds and Angels In America, Mary Louise Parker has been cast in the role as women's right leader Roma Guy with Emily Skeggs playing a younger version of the character.

Playing the role of Roma's wife and social justice activist will be Rachel Griffiths, best known for her roles on Six Feet Under and Brothers & Sisters. Griffiths will take on the role of Diane with Fiona Dourif playing a younger version as well in the eight hour miniseries.

Also heading up the cast is Memento's Guy Pearce as LGBT activist Cleve Jones (Austin McKenzie playing a younger version of the character) while Jonathan Majors will play a younger version of African-American community organiser Ken Jones while former True Blood actress Carrie Preston will take on the role of gay rights activist Sally Gearhart as well as Teen Wolf's Charlie Carver in the role of Michael. The roles of an older version of Ken Jones and transgender activist Cecelia Chung are still to be cast, among a few others. That being said though, casting so far for this miniseries is seriously impressive. I'll post about the remaining cast and airdate when the information is made public. The miniseries is executive-produced by Black, Laurence Mark, Bruce Cohen and Gus Van Sant for ABC.

Casting Information: http://www.playbill.com/article/mary-louise-parker-emily-skeggs-rachel-griffiths-cast-in-when-we-rise

An airdate has yet to be confirmed on ABC for When We Rise.

When We Rise - ABC Commissions LGBT Miniseries

Move over HBO it seems.

Yup, ABC have commissioned LGBT mini-series, When We Rise as an eight hour/episode event and it will be made by Dustin Lance Black (Milk) and Gus Van Sant, the latter of whom will produce the series and direct the first two episodes.

The miniseries will focus on the latter generation of leaders in the LGBT equality movement. According to the press release, the series will ....

“chronicles the personal and political struggles, setbacks and triumphs of a diverse family of LGBT men and women who helped pioneer one of the last legs of the U.S. civil rights movement from its turbulent infancy in the 20th century to its successes today.”

While casting for the upcoming miniseries has yet to be confirmed, When We Rise has been in discussion with ABC for the last two and a half years and it'll be interesting to find out the other names that will be attached to the project.

More Details: http://www.spoilertv.com/2015/12/when-we-rise-lgbt-miniseries-ordered-by.html

I'll post more details on When We Rise as they become available.