(Elle Fanning, Naomi Watts and Susan Sarandon in ‘3 Generations.’ Photo via The Karpel Group.)

The Weinstein Company is challenging the MPAA’s R rating of its upcoming transgender film “3 Generations.”

The film, originally titled “About Ray,” stars Elle Fanning as transgender teen Ray who is transitioning from female to male. Ray’s single mother (Naomi Watts) must find Ray’s father (Tate Donovan) to give legal consent for the transition. Susan Sarandon plays Ray’s lesbian grandmother who is confused by Ray’s transgender identity.

MPAA gave the film an R rating due to profanity and sexual references. The Weinstein Company has hired lawyer David Boies to downgrade the rating to PG-13. Boies worked towards overturning Prop. 8 in 2009 and has fought against censorship in other Weinstein films including “Carol” and “Bully.”

“Gaby, Naomi, Susan and Elle made this movie to share its message of acceptance and inclusion with all generations. The fact that an R rating would prevent high school students from seeing this film would truly be a travesty. The MPAA and I were able to come to an agreement on ‘Bully,’ and I am confident that we will be able to do so again,” TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein said in a public statement.

“3 Generations” premieres in D.C. on May 12.