Brad Pitt’s Production Company to Make Film on Infamous Steubenville Rape Case
There aren't many people who haven't heard of the Steubenville case. Now it seems that Brad Pitt himself has taken notice.
According to Hollywood's insider blog, The Tracking Board, Pitt's company Plan B has bought the rights to a Rolling Stone feature "Anonymous vs. Steubenville," which covers the case but mainly focuses on one man named Deric Lostutter: a hacktivist and member of Anonymous (an online vigilante group).
In case you missed the case which dominated the headlines throughout 2013 - it concerned the rape of a 16-year-old girl by two high school football players and the subsequent alleged cover-up that took place involving many members of the small community. The case came to Lostutter's attention, and he began to expose the true story of what happened in Steubenville - offering justice for the victim and garnering attention for the victim's plight. After the attack on the 16-year-old "Jane Doe," there had been images and discussion of what happened to her on social-networking sites.
Related: 8 books to read before they hit movie screens in 2014
The Rolling Stone article explains how Lostutter, despite never leaving his own home, managed to incite a demonstration in Steubenville. He was also instrumental in bringing to justice the rapists, along with the indictment of the high school superintendent, the elementary school principal, and two high school coaches.
However, his championing of this case has cost Lostutter dearly: He now faces criminal charges himself as a result of his involvement with the hacking group. Amazingly, the rapists were found guilty, but only faced a year in jail, whereas Lostutter could be looking at a 20-year prison sentence. Lostutter has said he posted social media messages, photos, and videos that helped implicate the two boys convicted in the case, Mays and Richmond, but tells Rolling Stone he did not hack to get the information.
This project will be the first Pitt, Dede Gardner, and fellow Plan B producer Jeremy Kleiner have announced since their Best Picture Oscar® win for 12 Years a Slave.
Photo source: Pacific Coast News
-By Suzanne Jannese
For the 20 best movie makeovers of all time, visit Babble!
MORE ON BABBLE
8 Oscar®-nominated stars' first roles before they made it big
16 child stars from the '90s - then vs. now
10 celebrities who look JUST like the stars they played on film
