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Joel Edgerton has always been fascinated by prisons, cults, and religious extremism, he tells EW.

Garrards story is so full of redemption.

BOY ERASEDTheodore Pellerin as “Xavier” and Lucas Hedges as “Jared”

Credit: Focus Features

I find Lucas just to be a really beautiful blank canvas.

Theres a sensitivity to him in his observation in the world.

Theres a certain quiet nature that he can convey on screen, the filmmaker says of the 21-year-old actor.

BOY ERASED

Focus Features

Kidman wanted to bring love rather than maliciousness to the role of Nancy.

Nothing that she did was vindictive, which is probably why they have such a strong relationship now.

Throughout his memoir, Conley often tries to understand why his parents made the decisions that they did.

BOY ERASEDNicole Kidman as “Nancy” and Russell Crowe as “Marshall”

Focus Features

He has a deep compassion for other peoples point of views, Edgerton says.

Marshall urged the filmmaker to present him on screen in an honest way….

He was happy for me to show his inability to fully grasp his son, Edgerton says.

Boy Erasedis in theaters Sept. 28.