Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Gus Van Sant is reportedly developing a new biographical drama centered on the life of former supermodel Hoyt Richards, with Nicholas Galitzine attached to portray the fashion star. The project is expected to explore Richards’ meteoric rise in the modeling industry during the 1980s and 1990s before revealing his involvement in the controversial Eternal Values organization, a group that has recently returned to the spotlight through HBO’s documentary series Bring Me the Beauties.
Van Sant is in talks to direct the feature while Galitzine has signed on to play Richards. Although the film has not yet received an official production schedule, it marks another high-profile role for Galitzine following Red, White & Royal Blue and his upcoming performance in Masters of the Universe.
Film Will Explore Hoyt Richards’ Extraordinary Double Life
Hoyt Richards was among the biggest male fashion models of his generation, working with some of the industry’s most recognizable luxury brands, including Versace, Ralph Lauren, and Valentino. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, he appeared alongside supermodels such as Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Linda Evangelista, becoming one of the highest-paid male models in the business.
Behind the glamorous career, however, Richards was deeply involved with Eternal Values, a New Age religious organization that reportedly recruited numerous fashion models. According to Richards’ own accounts, he devoted significant time, money, and personal commitment to the group before eventually leaving it and later sharing his experiences publicly.
The HBO documentary Bring Me the Beauties revisits the organization’s history through interviews, archival material, and firsthand testimony, providing context that is expected to influence the upcoming dramatization.
If finalized, the project would continue Gus Van Sant’s long history of directing films inspired by complex real-life figures. The filmmaker is best known for acclaimed features including Milk, Good Will Hunting, My Own Private Idaho, and Elephant, often focusing on deeply personal stories shaped by identity, ambition, and personal struggle.
While plot details remain limited, industry reports suggest the film will emphasize both Richards’ success within the fashion world and the psychological impact of his time inside the cult rather than presenting a conventional modeling biopic.
Galitzine has quickly become one of Hollywood’s busiest young actors. Alongside his leading role in Amazon’s Red, White & Royal Blue, he recently completed work on Masters of the Universe, where he portrays Prince Adam/He-Man.
Taking on the role of Hoyt Richards represents a significant departure from his previous blockbuster and romantic roles, offering the actor an opportunity to portray a real-life figure whose career combined international fame with deeply personal hardship.
Although neither the studio nor Van Sant has announced a release date, the combination of an award-winning director, a rising leading actor, and an extraordinary true story is already generating considerable attention among film fans.
