Sebastian Stan (Thunderbolts) and Leo Woodall (The White Lotus) are teaming up for a powerful new film that blends political rebellion, counterculture history, and queer love. Titled Burning Rainbow Farm, the film is directed by Justin Kurzel (The Order) and based on the true story of Tom Crosslin and Rollie Rohm—two lovers who turned their rural Michigan land into a cannabis-friendly utopia before it all ended in a tragic and fiery standoff with the state.
The project, adapted from Dean Kuipers’ nonfiction book and written by Holding the Man screenwriter Tommy Murphy, is poised to make waves not just for its dramatic plot, but for centering a love story rarely explored in American cinema: one that’s both radical and queer.
A Real-Life Romance on the Frontlines
At its core, Burning Rainbow Farm is a political love story. Crosslin and Rohm weren’t just partners in life—they were partners in building something extraordinary. Rainbow Farm, as it was known, became a symbol of peaceful protest, cannabis legalization, and queer visibility in the early 2000s Midwest. The film follows the couple as they create their dream community, only to have it ripped apart by legal battles, the loss of their son, and a government siege that captured national attention.
Director Kurzel describes the project as “a love story about two outliers who raise their middle finger to hate and declare, ‘This is who we are, and we dare you to take it from us.’” With Stan and Woodall portraying the star-crossed lovers, the emotional gravity is expected to hit hard—and queer audiences are likely to see reflections of resilience, resistance, and tenderness often left out of similar genre films.
Queer History Meets Mainstream Cinema
For a generation raised on sanitized Hollywood romances, Burning Rainbow Farm offers something refreshingly real. Not only does it revisit an overlooked chapter in queer and drug policy history, but it also places a same-sex relationship at the emotional center of a major cinematic release. And with Murphy—the writer behind the beloved gay romance Holding the Man—penning the script, the intimacy and complexity of the couple’s bond is in thoughtful hands.
This is not just another crime drama. It’s an elegy for queer love under siege, and a warning about how far state power will go to crush what it doesn’t understand.
A-Listers Behind the Scenes
The film is being produced by Nicole O’Donohue, Kurzel, and Alexandra Taussig for Thirdborn, alongside Adam Shulman of Anonymous Content, Alix Madigan of Mad Dog Films, and Justin Lothrop and Brent Stiefel of Votiv. Rocket Science will present the project to international buyers at the Cannes Film Market, while CAA Media Finance is handling North American rights.
Sebastian Stan, hot off his Oscar-nominated turn in The Apprentice and starring in Thunderbolts, brings both depth and star power to the project. Leo Woodall, meanwhile, has continued to rise with roles in Prime Target, One Day, and the upcoming Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. With this film, both actors are taking on roles that demand emotional nuance and social weight.
Representation That Matters
In a media landscape where queer stories are often sidelined or sanitized, Burning Rainbow Farm arrives like a Molotov cocktail of truth and tenderness. It’s a film that dares to explore what it means to love radically, live authentically, and stand your ground—even when the odds are stacked against you.
Burning Rainbow Farm is currently in pre-production. Keep your eyes on Cannes, and your hearts open for what might be one of the most essential queer films of the year.
