Fox to develop film on US Supreme Court's same-sex marriage ruling

20th Century Fox is developing a film about the U.S. Supreme Court case that made same-sex marriage a nationwide right.

A representative for Fox confirmed Tuesday the studio has acquired the life rights to Jim Obergefell (OH'-burk-uh-fel), the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit that last month became a landmark in the gay rights movement. Fox also obtained the life rights to Obergefell's lawyer, Al Gerhardstein, and those to a book proposal by Obergefell and journalist Debbie Cenziper.

The project will be developed by the 20th Century Fox division Fox 2000.

Obergefell sued after Ohio refused to list him as the spouse to his longtime partner, John Arthur, on Arthur's death certificate after his death in 2013. The two had been legally married in Maryland.

The New York Times first reported the film project.