Two Harvey Milk
films in the making

Directors Bryan Singer and Gus Van Sant are each eyeing two separate projects about the first openly gay elected official in the United States. The Mayor of Castro Street--based on the book by Randy Shiltz about Harvey Milk, the San Francisco supervisor who along with Mayor George Moscone was assassinated in 1978--has endured 15 years in film development with Warner Independent Productions. According to Variety, Warner and Singer are nearing a deal to start production. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are slated to produce the film. Despite Singer's obligations to direct Valkyie and a Superman Returns sequel, he hopes to release the Milk film in 2009.

Van Sant, who was at one time on board to direct The Mayor of Castro Street, has attached himself to an untitled script about Milk by Dustin Lance Black. (The Advocate)