News > Josh Brolin to Kill Harvey in Milk

Written by David Morgan

Josh Brolin's career is continuing its recent upward trajectory as the actor considers playing the role of assassin Dan White (a part that Matt Damon had been reportedly looking at), in Gus Van Sant's Milk. Sean Penn has already been cast as the titular Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in a major American city, who was shot and killed (along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone) in 1978 by Dan White. According to Variety, the picture will shoot entirely in San Francisco, where Milk was elected city supervisor in 1977. 

Dustin Lance Black wrote the screenplay. Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen are producing along with Groundswell CEO Michael London. Filming begins next month.

UPDATE: According to The Hollywood Reporter, James Franco and Emile Hirsch are in final negotiations to star in Milk as well. Hirsch (who starred in Penn's Into the Wild) will play gay rights activist Cleve Jones, an intern and close ally of Milk's, who went on to found the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. Franco will play Scott Smith, Milk's lover and campaign manager.