Larry Kramer Talks NORMAL HEART Sequel; Stars Mark Ruffalo, Jim Parsons Likely to Return

In a new interview with Variety, writer Larry Kramer revealed details on the upcoming sequel to his Tony Award-winning play THE NORMAL HEART, set to air on HBO, again helmed by Ryan Murphy.

"I would say I'm about two-thirds of the way through the first pass. It starts around the end of 'The Normal Heart' in 1984. And it goes not the appearance of the first drugs around 2001," Kramer told Variety. "Mark Ruffalo, who we hope will repeat his performance, will have to play Ned at a few times in his life: at the time of 'The Normal Heart;' in the middle where he gets sick; and today."

Kramer also confirmed Ned will remain the main character and expanded on Tommy's role, saying: "The part of Tommy, which I hope will be played again by Jim Parsons, is much bigger. He becomes a more important character in the sequel, as he was in my real life."

As far as Julia Roberts' continued participation in the project goes, Kramer said: "Ryan wants to use the same actors than in the first movie, if he can get him. It was a very close company. In the sequel, the part of the doctor is quite dramatic in that her polio returns and she has to go in for an iron lung, and she conducts business from the hospital."

The Emmy-winning HBO Films presentation of The Normal Heart premiered in May 2014 on HBO and starred Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Parsons and Roberts. The drama also starsAlfred Molina, Joe Mantello, Jonathan Groff, Denis O'Hare, Stephen Spinella, Corey Stoll, Finn Wittrock, and BD Wong.

Directed by Murphy and written by Kramer, THE NORMAL HEART tells the story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS Crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, taking an unflinching look at the nation's sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fight to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city and nation in denial.

Kramer's play debuted at New York's Public Theatre in 1985 and was revived in Los Angeles and London, and off-Broadway. The 2011 Broadway revival garnered five Tony nominations, winning for Best Revival, Best Featured Actor and Best Featured Actress.