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Ryan Murphy Buys Rights to THE NORMAL HEART & THE DESTINY OF ME; Aims to Run on Broadway in Rep
By: Stephi Wild May. 28, 2020
Ryan Murphy posted a heartfelt tribute to the late Larry Kramer on Instagram yesterday, following the news of his passing. In his post, he revealed that he had recently bought the stage rights to The Normal Heart and The Destiny of Me, and plans to run them on Broadway in rep.
Murphy directed the film version of The Normal Heart, which was released in 2014.
"I first met Larry Kramer in 2012. The film rights to his groundbreaking play 'The Normal Heart' had become available, and I wanted them," Murphy writes.
"...we got into negotiations, and he said he wanted one million dollars for the rights. 'Larry!' I said, 'that's a lot of money for a low budget film!' He paused and said 'it's what I'm worth.' I paid it. And I'm so glad I did."
Murphy goes on to praise Kramer for his work, as well as his activism.
"He was so passionate and so vital I never imagined he would pass. I thought he'd outlive us all. His work and his spirit will."
Read the full post below.
I first met Larry Kramer in 2012. The film rights to his groundbreaking play "The Normal Heart" had become available, and I wanted them. We had a wonderful first meeting, he was kind and excited about my casting ideas -- Mark Ruffalo and Julia Roberts (who would both go on to do the HBO film with us). From there we got into negotiations, and he said he wanted one million dollars for the rights. "Larry!" I said, "that's a lot of money for a low budget film!" He paused and said "it's what I'm worth." I paid it. And I'm so glad I did. Larry knew the value of his work, his life, all gay people's lives -- and his fundamental stubborn belief in equality for all made him perhaps the single greatest and most important gay activist of all time. His fight against government, discrimination, prejudice and big Pharma helped save millions of lives. His fight changed the health care system as we know it. I admired him above all others. He deserved the Medal of Freedom. I loved working with him, his passion. I eventually even came to love our fights. I won a Golden Globe one year, and the first call I got the next morning was from Larry. "I'm glad you won, but I hated seeing you there," he sniffed. "Larry, you should be happy for me!" I said. "Well, I'm not," he replied. "Because you should have been at home working on our project." He was terrified after 30 years of development hell it wouldn't be made, that his tale of AIDS and rage and beauty would never be seen widely by young people. But we got it made. He cried when he saw the first cut. "All my friends, all my generation, gone...and it's f-ing unfair it didn't need to happen" he said. Up until the end, we were still plotting. I recently bought the stage rights to do "The Normal Heart" and "The Destiny of Me" in rep on Broadway. He was so passionate and so vital I never imagined he would pass. I thought he'd outlive us all. His work and his spirit will. In his memory, watch "The Normal Heart" on HBO today. Or better yet, send an outraged email or tweet to a neglectful politician of your choice. He would have liked that.
A post shared by Ryan Murphy (@mrrpmurphy) on May 27, 2020 at 10:52am PDT
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