EXCLUSIVE: Goldcrest nabs rights to Stonewall starring Jeremy Irvine ahead of EFM.

UK sales outfit Goldcrest Films has nabbed international rights to Roland Emmerich’s gay rights drama Stonewall, starring Jeremy Irvine, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Ron Perlman and Joey King.

Warner Bros previously acquired rights in Germany while a US deal is understood to be in the works.

Currently in post-production, Stonewall recreates the events that culminated in the riots outside the Stonewall Inn, Greenwich Village, in June 1969. The events are considered by many as a turning point in the gay rights movement.

Irvine plays Danny Winters, a young man who is kicked out of his home by his parents and flees to New York where, homeless and destitute, he befriends a group of street kids who soon introduce him to the watering hole of local drag queens, gays, lesbians and everything in between: the Mafia-run Stonewall Inn.

There he meets the suave Trevor (Meyers), but catches the eye of the Stonewall’s repulsive manager (Perlman), who colludes with corrupt police, exploits homeless youth for financial gain and is even suspected to have had a hand in some of their ‘disappearances’.

Emmerich directs and produces Jon Robin Baitz’s (Brothers and Sisters) script, which marks a notable change of pace for the director best known for blockbusters including Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow and White House Down.

Michael Fossat, Marc Frydman (Flyboys) and Carsten Lorenz (Harold & Kumar) also produce while executive producers are Adam Press, Michael Roban and Kirstin Winkler.

Pascal Degove, managing director of Goldcrest Films said: “Roland Emmerich has demonstrated time and again that he has a unique ability to connect with audiences of all shapes and sizes.

“It’s hugely gratifying to be working on his only independent film in decades, and we’re thrilled to be introducing Stonewall to our distributors at the EFM.”

Emmerich continued: “Goldcrest’s enthusiasm and insight makes them natural partners on a very personal filmmaking endeavour. We couldn’t be in better hands.”

Goldcrest will be introducing buyers to the project at the EFM.