Fox to develop film on Supreme Court gay marriage ruling

Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court marriage equality decision, has agreed with 20th Century Fox on a movie deal about the case. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

New York (AP) — 20th Century Fox is developing a film about the U.S. Supreme Court case that made same-sex marriage a nationwide right.

A representative for Fox confirmed Tuesday the studio has acquired the life rights to Jim Obergefell , the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit that last month became a landmark in the gay rights movement. Fox also obtained the life rights to Obergefell's lawyer, Al Gerhardstein, and those to a book proposal by Obergefell and journalist Debbie Cenziper.

The project will be developed by the 20th Century Fox division Fox 2000.

Obergefell sued after Ohio refused to list him as the spouse to his longtime partner, John Arthur, on Arthur's death certificate after his death in 2013. The two had been legally married in Maryland.

The New York Times first reported the film project.

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The Gayly – July 8, 2015 @ 7:45am.