Joel Edgerton to star in and direct 'Boy Erased' alongside Lucas Hedges, could also nab Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman

Image from Deadline

By Darian Scalamoni

            This project is currently one of the most sought after in the industry, so much so that it’s started a bidding war. The one I’m referring to is what The Tracking Board is reporting is the movie adaptation of Boy Erased, based on the memoir of the same name written by Garrard Conley.

            The outlet also reports that Joel Edgerton will star and direct the film that will star recent Oscar-nominee, Lucas Hedges as Conley. The movie will follow Garrard Conley, a young gay man who is forced to undergo conversion therapy to “cure” his homosexuality. Growing up in a conservative town, it must’ve been a hard life to live as he was also the son of a Baptist pastor where he was raised. Edgerton would play the man who runs the conversion program.

            Edgerton previously directed the surprising thriller, The Gift that starred himself, Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall back in 2015 and since has been looking for his next directing vehicle. Even more excitedly, he’s looking to cast Conley’s parents and is courting fellow Aussie actors, Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman to play Hedges’ parents.

            Edgerton stars in It Comes at Night which hits theaters this weekend before starring in the Netflix movie, Bright which also stars Will Smith. Hedges will star in Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and also Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut, Lady Bird. Crowe will be seen in The Mummy which is also in theaters this weekend while Nicole Kidman has one of the busiest years ever with roles in The Beguiled, The Killing of a Sacred Deer and How to Talk to Girls at Parties. She also starred in HBO limited series, Big Little Lies and will star in Untouchable and Aquaman next year.