Apple Original Films has unveiled the official trailer for Being Heumann, an inspiring biographical drama starring Ruth Madeley and Mark Ruffalo. Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Siân Heder, best known for CODA, the film chronicles the extraordinary life and activism of disability rights pioneer Judith Heumann. The newly released trailer, unveiled on Monday, October 12th, 2026, offers audiences an extended look at the historic movement that helped transform disability rights protections in the United States.
Set primarily in 1977, Being Heumann follows Judy Heumann, portrayed by Madeley, as she organizes a coalition of disability rights activists determined to challenge discrimination and demand equal treatment under federal law. Their efforts culminate in the historic occupation of a federal government building in San Francisco, where demonstrators pressure officials to implement protections under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The protest became one of the most significant demonstrations in American disability rights history. Ruffalo portrays Joseph Califano Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare during the Carter administration, whose decisions became central to the activists’ demands.
Written by Heder and Rebekah Taussig, the film features an extensive ensemble cast that includes Dylan O’Brien, Madeline Delp, Roberta Colindrez, Ray Fisher, Daniel Durant, Rob Delaney, Antwan Tolliver, and Michael Patrick Thornton. The production draws inspiration from Heumann’s bestselling memoir, Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist, which she co-wrote with Kristen Joiner. The movie previously celebrated its world premiere as the opening-night selection of the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival and is preparing for a gala presentation at the BFI London Film Festival. The film will open in select theaters on Friday, November 6th, 2026, before premiering globally on Apple TV on Friday, November 13th, 2026.
Being Heumann brings an influential chapter of American civil rights history to the screen, recognizing the activists whose determination helped advance protections for millions of people with disabilities. The film continues Heder’s commitment to stories centered on representation, accessibility, and social change.
(Source: Awards Radar)
