ABC Developing Gay Rights Miniseries Chronicling 'Triumphs' of LGBT Movement

Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black and director Gus Van Sant are developing an eight-hour miniseries for ABC, which will chronicle the history of the gay rights movement.

Black and Van Sant helmed the 2008 Harvey Milk biopic Milk, which won Academy Awards for Best Writing (Black) and Best Actor (Sean Penn).

Van Sant was nominated for Best Director.

TheWrap reports Van Sant, who is an executive producer on the upcoming ABC Studios project, will direct the first two-hour episode of the series.

When We Rise will reportedly cover the history of the movement, beginning with the Stonewall Riots of 1969:

[The miniseries] chronicles the personal and political struggles, setbacks and triumphs of a diverse family of LGBT men and women who helped pioneer one of the last legs of the U.S. Civil Rights movement from its turbulent infancy in the 20th century to the once unfathomable successes of today.

Milk producer Bruce Cohen is also working as an executive producer on the project.