AceShowbiz - The upcoming music-driven AIDS drama Last Dance will star Adrien Brody, Rachel Zegler, and Ben Platt, FilmNation announced on Thursday. The film is helmed by director Karim Aïnouz, known for "Rosebush Pruning," and is adapted from a screenplay by Emily Ziff Griffin. The script is based on Griffin’s own autobiographical article for The New Yorker titled "The Last Dance With My Dad."

The narrative centers on Elliot, a celebrated Broadway composer portrayed by Brody, who invites his daughter Emma, played by Zegler, on a gay Caribbean cruise in 1991. Despite the festive atmosphere, the shadow of the AIDS crisis looms heavily. As Elliot faces the harsh realities of his illness, father and daughter must confront the unspoken emotions and truths between them. The story explores whether they can reconnect and find solace in each other before time and music fade away.

Ben Platt will not only co-star but also contribute original music to the film. Meanwhile, Zegler, who recently completed a Broadway run in "Evita," will perform original songs, adding authentic musical depth to the project.

Production is managed by Fifth Season and Lynette Howell Taylor’s 51 Entertainment, with Griffin also serving as an executive producer. FilmNation Entertainment plans to launch international sales at the upcoming Cannes market. On the domestic front, Fifth Season and CAA Media Finance Group are handling distribution rights.

Director Karim Aïnouz expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, "I am thrilled to bring to the screen such a unique and moving portrait of a time where hope and celebration allowed our queer community to overcome one of the worst crises of last century." He added that the film highlights the resilience and solidarity that emerged during the AIDS epidemic, describing Last Dance as a universal story where joy becomes an act of defiance and the dance floor a symbol of resistance. Aïnouz emphasized the importance of telling hopeful stories in today's world and praised the collaboration with the talented cast and crew.

Representations for the key players include Aïnouz being represented by CAA, LARK, and Granderson Des Rochers; Brody by CAA, 2PM Sharp, and Kopeikin Law P.C.; Zegler by WME, The Initiative Group, and Freundlich Law; and Platt by CAA, Untitled Entertainment, Immersive Management, 42West, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hunick Jamie LeVine Sample & Klein. Griffin is represented by WME and Greenberg Glusker.