Gus Van Sant is in talks to direct a biopic based on openly gay '70s politician Harvey Milk. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sean Penn is attached to play Milk, and Matt Damon is set to play Milk's assassin, Dan White, who shot San Francisco city supervisor Milk and Mayor George Moscone in 1978..

Dustin Lance Black wrote the screenplay. Producer Michael London and his Groundswell Productions are financing the film. They are currently in talks with a leading specialty division to launch the project. Once the deal is finalized, the film could go into production as early as December.

Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have attempted to bring a Milk biopic to the screen for more than fifteen years. At one time, Bryan Singer was also prepping a Milk biopic.