Hollywood has spent decades giving superheroes capes, cosmic hammers, and suspiciously generous insurance policies for global catastrophes. In Being Heumann, the greatest weapon is a group of activists refusing to leave a government building.

Directed by CODA filmmaker Siân Heder, Apple Original Films' drama revisits the 1977 San Francisco sit-in that helped transform disability rights in America. Ruth Madeley leads the charge as Judy Heumann, confronting an administration whose paperwork seems to have developed its own supervillain origin story.

With a November 13 Apple TV debut approaching, the real-life rebellion has assembled a formidable ensemble.

Dylan O'Brien as Evan White: The Maze Runner star plays a television journalist who brings the protesters' demands beyond the federal building. His camera connects the occupation to the outside world.

Ruth Madeley as Judy Heumann: The Doctor Who actress portrays the organizer whose coalition rejects another bureaucratic delay. Her mission needs no cape.

Mark Ruffalo as Joseph Califano: Marvel's Hulk transforms into the US Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, whose signature the determined activists urgently need. Here, the paperwork has genuinely world-changing stakes.

Madeline Delp as Kitty Cone:  Delp plays Kitty Cone, a key organizer who keeps morale high as the historic sit-in stretches into several increasingly difficult weeks.

Antwan Tolliver as Brad Lomax: He portrays a disability activist and Black Panther whose connections sustain the occupation.

Ray Fisher as Chuck Jackson: Known for playing Cyborg in Justice League, Fisher portrays Chuck Jackson, a participant in a historical struggle rooted in solidarity and everyday courage.

Rob Delaney as Congressman George Miller: The Deadpool 2 actor portrays a politician who supports the protesters during the stand-off.

Roberta Colindrez as Joni Breves: The A League of Their Own actress joins the coalition as another protester.

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The cast brings the protest's many personalities into focus, but Ruffalo believes the true antagonist reaches beyond one government office.

Mark Ruffalo recently shared a Forbes feature celebrating Heder's refusal to sanitize the occupation shown in Being Heumann. The director described Black Panthers arriving to support the activists, an atmosphere of defiance, and the wonderfully unruly life unfolding inside the building. 

Ruffalo called the screenplay refreshing, surprising and spontaneous, praising its humor and emotional complexity. He also resisted turning Califano into a cartoon villain. His argument was that replacing one obstructive official does little when the underlying system keeps producing the same barriers. Even the Hulk understands that some battles require dismantling the machine.

His praise extended to Madeley, whose portrayal combines Judy's toughness, humor and vulnerability. Heder wanted disabled characters shown as complicated people capable of anger, laughter and disagreements, rather than polished symbols designed for easy applause.

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Which performance are you most excited to see in Being Heumann? Let us know in the comments.