Bryan Singer to direct The Mayor of Castro Street for Warner Bros.

After 15 years of trying to get Randy Shilts's portrait of legendary gay politician-activist Harvey Milk to the big screen, out producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have landed director Bryan Singer (X2, the upcoming Superman Returns) to direct the biopic for Warner Bros., Variety reports. The Mayor of Castro Street will tell the story of Milk, one of the first openly gay men elected to substantial political office in the United States, who was assassinated alongside San Francisco mayor George Moscone by Milk's fellow supervisor Dan White. Brandon Boyce, who wrote the script for Singer's Apt Pupil, will adapt. "The last time we saw Randy before he passed away from AIDS, we promised him we'd make this movie, but only if it was done properly," Zadan told Variety. "With Bryan, we feel, for the first time since Oliver Stone, that we have the right director with the right vision." Stone was attached to the film at one point but parted ways with the production after taking a drubbing from gay activists over queer characters in JFK. Gus Van Sant, Rob Cohen, Brian Gibson, and Craig Lucas were also considered as directors at different times. "Harvey created a concept and pride for a disenfranchised group at a point in history when the world was in upheaval, and he paid the highest price for it," said Singer. One can only hope that Singer can include some of Milk's stirring speeches, which still reverberate today, such as this memorable quote from a Gay Freedom Day speech Milk gave on June 25, 1978: "Gay brothers and sisters...you must come out. Come out...to your parents.... I know that it is hard and will hurt them, but think about how they will hurt you in the voting booth! Come out to your relatives...come out to your friends...if indeed they are your friends. Come out to your neighbors...to your fellow workers...to the people who work where you eat and shop...come out only to the people you know and who know you. Not to anyone else. But once and for all, break down the myths, destroy the lies and distortions. For your sake. For their sake. For the sake of the youngsters who are becoming scared by the votes from Dade [County, Fla.] to Eugene [Ore.]."