// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Being Heumann say to itself? "I'm a wheel good advocate.
| Being Heumann | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Sian Heder |
| Screenplay by | Sian Heder Rebekah Taussig |
| Based on | |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Jamie D. Ramsay |
| Edited by | Geraud Brisson |
| Music by | Francesco Le Metre |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Apple TV |
Release dates |
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Running time | 127 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Being Heumann is a 2026 American biographical drama film directed by Sian Heder with Ruth Madeley starring as Judith Heumann alongside Mark Ruffalo. It is an adaptation of the memoir Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann.
The film had its world premiere as the opening film of the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2026, and will be released theatrically by Apple Studios on November 6, 2026. [1]
Cast
[edit]- Ruth Madeley as Judith Heumann, a disability rights activist
- Mark Ruffalo as Joseph A. Califano Jr., the United States secretary of health, education and welfare
- Dylan O'Brien as Evan White, a reporter who embeds himself with Heumann and the other disability rights activists during their protests
- Madeline Delp as Kitty Cone, a disability rights activist who softly challenges Heumann's approach
- Rob Delaney as Congressman George Miller
- Ray Fisher as Chuck Jackson
- Michael Patrick Thornton as Ed Roberts
- Antwan Tolliver as Brad Lomax, a Black Panther and disability rights advocate
- Daniel Durant as Steve McCleeland
- Jon Beavers as Jim Pechin, Heumann's love interest
- Roberta Colindrez as Joni Breves, Heumann's bestfriend and fellow activist who acts as her on-and-off caregiver
- Russell Harvard as Olin Fortney
- Charlie Rush-Reese as Dennis Billups
- Joe Cobden as Hamilton Jordan
- Andrew Pilkington as Hale Zukas, a disability rights activist
- Siena Rafter as Lynette Taylor, an ASL interpreter
- Matthew Jeffers as Gerald
- Rein Barcel as Cece
- D'Arcee Charington Neal as Ron Washington
- Will Brill as Gene Eidenberg
- Rio Finnegan as Milton
Production
[edit]The film is directed by Sian Heder, who – with Rebekah Taussig – adapted the Judy Heumann memoir, Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist. The film is from Apple Studios and is produced by David Permut and Kevin Walsh, whose Walsh Company has an overall deal with Apple. Heumann's managers, John W. Beach and Kevin Cleary of Gravity Squared Entertainment, are also producers.[2]
In May 2025, Ruth Madeley was cast to play Heumann.[2] Mark Ruffalo and Dylan O'Brien were added to the cast the following month.[3][4] In July 2025, Madeline Delp, Rob Delaney, Ray Fisher, Michael Patrick Thornton, Antwan Tolliver, Daniel Durant, Jon Beavers, Roberta Colindrez, and Russell Harvard joined the cast.[5][6]
Principal photography took place in Toronto in mid-2025.[7]
Release
[edit]In July 2026, Being Heumann was announced as the opening film of the Toronto International Film Festival.[8] It is scheduled to be released in select theaters on November 6, 2026, and will be released on Apple TV on November 13.[9]
Reception
[edit]Critical response
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 84%, based on 32 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10.[10] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 67 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[11]
Accolades
[edit]| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto International Film Festival | 20 September 2026 | Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media | Sian Heder | Honored | [12] |
| People's Choice Award | Being Heumann | 2nd Runner-up | [13] |
References
[edit]- ↑ apple.com Being Heumann release detailsaccessed 08/30/2026
- 1 2 Grobar, Matt (May 29, 2025). "Ruth Madeley Lands Lead Role In Apple's Civil Rights Film 'Being Heumann' From 'CODA's Siân Heder". Deadline. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ↑ Kroll, Justin (June 10, 2025). "Mark Ruffalo To Star In Apple's Original Films Pic 'Being Heumann' From 'CODA' Director Siân Heder". Deadline. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ↑ Grobar, Matt (June 12, 2025). "Dylan O'Brien Latest To Join Apple's 'Being Heumann'". Deadline. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ↑ Grobar, Matt (July 1, 2025). "Madeline Delp, Rob Delaney & Ray Fisher Join Apple's 'Being Heumann'". Deadline. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ↑ Cordero, Rosy (July 9, 2025). "Jon Beavers, Daniel Durant & Roberta Colindrez Among 6 Cast In Apple Film 'Being Heumann'". Deadline. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ↑ Martin, Mackenzie (August 4, 2025). "A Kansas City writer is making a film about the disability rights law that paved the way for the ADA". kcur.org. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ↑ Vlessing, Etan (July 7, 2026). "'CODA' Director Sian Heder's 'Being Heumann' to Open Toronto Film Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- ↑ Hall, Gerrad (July 20, 2026). "Inside CODA director's follow-up Being Heumann, about Judy Heumann and her fight for disability rights". Entertainment Weekly.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Being Heumann". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Being Heumann". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 14, 2026.
- ↑ Davis, Clayton (July 29, 2026). "Penélope Cruz, Isabelle Huppert, Lee Chang-dong Among First TIFF Tribute Awards Honorees". Variety. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
- ↑ Pete Hammond, "‘La Bola Negra’ Wins Oscar Predictive Toronto Film Festival People’s Choice Award". Deadline Hollywood, September 20, 2026.
External links
[edit]
- 2026 films
- 2026 American films
- 2026 English-language films
- 2026 biographical drama films
- American biographical drama films
- Apple TV (streaming service) original films
- Biographical films about activists
- Films about disability in the United States
- Films based on memoirs
- Films directed by Sian Heder
- Films shot in Toronto