Larry Kramer to Pen NORMAL HEART Sequel for Ryan Murphy

In today's New York Times, Larry Kramer, author of THE NORMAL HEART, speaks out about the challenges he faced while bringing his Tony Award winning play to the small screen. He also confirmed recent reports that he will pen a sequel to the award-winning drama for the project's director, Ryan Murphy.

Per the article: "It's by far his best work," Mr. Kramer says of Mr. Murphy, for whom he is now writing a "Normal Heart" sequel. "I said, 'You've really got to stop with the horror movies and become a serious director, because you are one.' "

Mr Kramer also revealed that it was his strong desire to see the project come to fruition that inspired him to get past a recent bout of serious health issues. "I came close to dying twice since the beginning of the year; it has been awful," he said recently. "I fought to hang on to get to this moment. There were so many times I never thought I would."

Read the story in full here

The HBO Films presentation The Normal Heart is scheduled to debut SUNDAY, MAY 25 at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO. The drama stars Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons and Julia Roberts. The drama also starsAlfred Molina, Joe Mantello, Jonathan Groff, Denis O'Hare,Stephen Spinella, Corey Stoll, Finn Wittrock, and BD Wong.

Directed by Ryan Murphy and written by Larry Kramer, adapting his groundbreaking Tony Award-winning play of the same name, THE NORMAL HEART, tells the story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS Crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, taking an unflinching look at the nation's sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fight to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city and nation in denial.

The film stars Academy Award nominee Mark Ruffalo ("The Kids Are All Right"), Matt Bomer ("White Collar"), Taylor Kitsch ("Lone Survivor"), Emmy(R) winner Jim Parsons ("The Big Bang Theory") and Academy Award winner Julia Roberts as well as Alfred Molina ("An Education"), Tony Award winner Joe Mantello ("Law & Order"), Jonathan Groff(HBO's "Looking"), Denis O'Hare (HBO's "True Blood"), Stephen Spinella ("Milk"), Corey Stoll ("House of Cards"),Finn Wittrock ("Unbroken"), and BD Wong (HBO's "Oz").

An HBO Films presentation of a Plan B and Blumhouse production in association with Ryan Murphy Productions, The Normal Heart is executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Dante Di Loreto ("Glee"), Jason Blum (the "Paranormal Activity" series), Brad Pitt ("Moneyball"), Dede Gardner ("12 Years a Slave"). Mark Ruffalo co-executive produces; Scott Ferguson (HBO's "Temple Grandin") produces.

Kramer's play debuted at New York's Public Theatre in 1985 and was revived in Los Angeles and London, and off-Broadway. The 2011 Broadway revival garnered five Tony nominations, winning for Best Revival, Best Featured Actor and Best Featured Actress.