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Apple Original Films has unveiled a new trailer for Being Heumann, an upcoming drama starring Mark Ruffalo, best known for portraying the Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the film, Ruffalo takes on the role of a government bureaucrat, alongside Ruth Madeley, who portrays renowned disability rights activist Judy Heumann.
According to the official synopsis, the film follows Heumann as she leads more than 100 young activists in a bold act of defiance, occupying the San Francisco Federal Building to demand equal rights for people with disabilities.
The 2-minute, 34-second trailer opens with Madeley’s Heumann lying in bed, accompanied by the powerful line, “Disability is not a tragedy. It is a tremendous hassle.” Set against a rock soundtrack, the footage brings the historic 1977 disability rights protest to life, highlighting the determination of activists fighting for accessibility and equal treatment.
The trailer also explores the everyday obstacles faced by people with disabilities, emphasizing the social and structural barriers that continue to shape their lives. At the center of the story is the protest against the federal government’s failure to implement and enforce Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a landmark provision prohibiting disability-based discrimination in federally funded programs.
In one particularly striking moment, Heumann challenges society’s perception of disability, declaring, “They see you in front of the stairs, and they think that you’re the problem. The stairs are the problem.” The line underscores the film’s central message: that inaccessible environments, rather than disabled individuals, are often the real barriers to inclusion.
Alongside Ruffalo and Madeley, the film features Dylan O’Brien, Rob Delaney, Ray Fisher, Madeline Delp, Michael Patrick Thornton, and other cast members.
Directed by Siân Heder, Being Heumann premiered as the opening-night film at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2026. The film is also scheduled to screen as part of the Gala program at the BFI London Film Festival.
Being Heumann is set to arrive in theaters on November 6, 2026, before making its global streaming debut on Apple TV on November 13, 2026.
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