Brad Gooch’s biography of Keith Haring is headed to the small screen, Deadline reports.
Gooch’s Radiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring is being developed as a series by Working Title Television. The biography of the artist was published last year by Harper; a critic for Kirkus praised it as “a sympathetic and well-researched portrait.”
Haring first rose to fame in the early 1980s as a graffiti artist in New York City. He painted colorful murals that reflected his interest in social themes, including safe sex and LGBTQ+ activism. His work remained popular after his death from complications from AIDS in 1990.
The series will be written and directed by Andrew Haigh, known for helming the films Lean on Pete and All of Us Strangers. Executive producers on the series include Haigh, Gooch, and the Keith Haring Foundation.
“Haring’s work, while profoundly personal, speaks to something deep in us all,” Haigh told Deadline. “His bold line defined a moment in time, yet his art resonates as powerfully today as it did in the 1980s. Radiant is a joyful call to action, a celebration of life even in the midst of adversity and struggle. Keith’s story pulses with the unshakable belief that art can change the world.”
Gooch shared news of the adaptation on Instagram, writing, “Breaking News: anyone I’ve told about this asks the same question: Who’s going to play Keith Haring?”
Commenters had several suggestions for the role, including Paul Mescal, Joe Cole, Harris Dickinson, and Barry Keoghan.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
