Trailer for 'Being Heumann': Siân Heder's Follow-Up to 'CODA' Is an Inspiring Biopic About a Real American Hero

At the TIFF opening, Ruth Madley delivers a star-making performance as Judy Heumann, the disability rights activist.

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How do you track the Best Picture winner? As filmmaker Sian Hader told us ahead of Being Human's world premiere last month, the answer was simple: just go for "the hardest story he could imagine trying to tell." Fortunately for the CODA director, his willingness to use his new Hollywood weight to tell such a story has paid off.

Heather's biopic about incredible disability rights activist Judy Human opened this year's TIFF to rave reviews, with many praising its unexpectedly lighthearted tone, inspiring use of a truly diverse cast, and standout performance from star Ruth Madeley.

As I wrote in my own review, "Judy's a natural presence, sure, but the big question in Heather's film — which she adapted from Human's biography with co-writer Rebecca Taussig — is how she'll use all that power to make real change. It's a concern that's always plagued great leaders, but she neglected to talk about it. Human's long, storied life had many incredible chapters (she's in 2023, two years after (Beginning to work with Heather on the film passed away), the filmmakers were cleverly zero in on one in the original cut. From Life to Make "Being Heyman." Cradle to Grave is not, but the film still succeeds greatly when it establishes Human's role in the disability rights movement and his uniqueness as a true American mainstream. Related Stories Sebastian Stan in 'Batman: Part 2', The Political Message of 'The Fjord' and 'His Own On-Screen Change With Escape Talent at Fall 2026 Film Festivals'

The end product is an exciting, fast-paced and truly inspiring biopic that never feels like a chore. It also serves as a stark reminder of the power of film to not only tell the stories that need to be told, but to tell them right. Heather used a huge cast of people with all kinds of disabilities, a moving (and clever!) way to tell a story that has unexpected mass appeal.

The film also stars Dylan O'Brien, Madeleine Delp, Roberta Collinders, John Beavers, Antoine Tolliver, Ray Fisher, Andrew Pilkington, Michael Patrick Thornton, Russell Harvard, Daniel Durant, Charlie Rush-Rees, Rio Finnegan, Darceo Villiers, August Vilney-Roffers, August de Charrington, August DeLelle Charrington, August DeLelle, Starring Michael Charrington. Sienna Rafter and Ryan Barcel.

Apple TV premieres "Being Human" in select theaters on Friday, November 6, before launching globally on the platform on Friday, November 13. Watch the first trailer of the film below.