Director Gus Van Sant brings the real-life tale of Harvey Milk, the slain gay activist and politician, to the big screen, care of Focus Features and actor Sean Penn, who plays the title role. Dustin Lance Black provides the script, with Groundswell Productions handling the financing duties. Josh Brolin co-stars as Dan White, a political opponent who shot and killed both Milk and San Francisco mayor George Moscone in 1978. Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, and James Franco round out the cast.