Octavia Spencer Producing Doc on Potential HIV Cure

Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer has signed on as a producer for the documentary short Right to Try, which examines an HIV cure treatment trial. She’ll produce through her production company, Orit Entertainment, according to Variety.

The Late Late Show with James Corden producer Zeberiah Newman directed the already-filmed documentary, which explores casting director Jeffrey Drew’s involvement in a clinical trial for an HIV cure. Andrew Carlberg, the producer of the Oscar-winning short Skin is also on board.

According to Variety, the team is looking to find a distributor to release the film on December 1, the 40th anniversary of World AIDS Day.

“The sacrifices and the potential sacrifices that Jeffrey made in an effort to cure HIV, which 38 million people worldwide are battling, is a heroic journey that everyone should know about,” Spencer's producing partner, Brian Clisham, told the magazine.

Drew, the star of the doc, has been living with HIV for 34 years, being diagnosed at 23. He has taken various antiretroviral drugs since. For the medical trial in the documentary, Drew had his immune system wiped with chemotherapy before the experimental treatment was given to him.  

After the experimental treatment, however, his viral load remained undetectable. "It’s wild not to be taking meds and not have a viral load,” Drew said.