Every week, The GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBTQ-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend.
1.) After seven despicable years, a bold new era of Minions mayhem ensues in the official trailer for Despicable Me 4. In a screenplay by bisexual Emmy-winner Mike White, Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxine Le Mal and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina, and the family is forced to go on the run. Check out the trailer below and watch Despicable Me 4 in theaters July 3!
2.) The trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire debuted this week! In the film, the Spengler family returns to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age. The sequel features non-binary actor Celeste O’Conner as Lucky Domingo, a resident of Summerville, Oklahoma and the daughter of Sheriff Domingo. Catch Frozen Empire in theaters March 22 and watch the trailer below.
3.) Queer actress and singer Ella Hunt has joined Sony Pictures’ upcoming pic SNL 1975. Based on real-life behind-the-scenes accounts of Saturday Night Live’s opening night, the film depicts the chaos and magic of a revolution that changed TV forever, counting down the minutes in real time to the infamous words “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” Hunt will play Gilda Radner, who was part of the troupe of young comedians on the very first show. In more SNL news, NBC has released the first promo for this weekend’s Saturday Night Live episode, hosted by out The Bear Emmy-winner Ayo Edebiri; check it out below and tune in Saturday at 11:30pm ET or the following day on Peacock!
4.) Falling Forward Films has acquired U.S. theatrical rights to supernatural thriller Queen of Bones, starring out actress Taylor Schilling. The film tells the story of twins Lilly (Julia Butters) and Sam (Jacob Tremblay), who live at a remote homestead with their violin-making father in 1931 Oregon. When the siblings find a spellbook in the cellar, they begin to suspect a connection between their mother’s death and dark forces in the woods. They soon embark on a dangerous mission to force their father and his friend, Ida May (Schilling), to reveal the truth. The TIFF 2023 title has its domestic premiere at the Santa Barbara Film Festival next month, with plans to release in theaters later this year. In other acquisition news, Berlin-based MAGNETFILM has acquired international rights to Teaches of Peaches, a documentary about the bisexual Canadian musician, artist, and feminist icon Peaches. Exclusive archival and tour footage captures the transformative journey of Merrill Nisker into the internationally acclaimed cultural powerhouse Peaches, who has been challenging gender stereotypes, confronting patriarchal power structures and advocating for LGBTQ rights for over two decades! Take a first-look at the film.
Thriller ‘Queen Of Bones’ Starring Julia Butters, Jacob Tremblay, Taylor Schilling, Martin Freeman & More Acquired By Falling Forward Films https://t.co/xmuEREwPOY
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) January 30, 2024
5.) Sony Pictures Classics has acquired gay director and screenwriter Pedro Almodóvar’s English-language feature debut The Room Next Door, marking his first feature-length project since 2021’s GLAAD Media Award-winning film Parallel Mothers. The film centers an imperfect mother and her resentful daughter, who live separate lives due to a profound misunderstanding. The Room Next Door will begin shooting in New York and Madrid this March!
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired Pedro Almodóvar’s first English language feature film, THE ROOM NEXT DOOR, starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton.https://t.co/Awxe98HEg2
— Sony Pictures Classics (@sonyclassics) February 1, 2024
6.) ABC has dropped a slew of trailers for LGBTQ-inclusive series, including the seventh and final season of The Good Doctor, the third season of Abbott Elementary, the sixth season of The Rookie, the second season of Not Dead Yet, and the sixth season of The Conners, as well as teasers for the seventh and final season of Station 19 and the twentieth season of Grey’s Anatomy. In the forthcoming season of Abbott Elementary, Principal Ava Coleman is fresh off a summer at Harvard and ready to make some strict changes. The series has also cast queer Hacks star Kimia Behpoornia in a recurring role. Behpoornia will portray Emily, a good-natured Philadelphia school district representative who aims to bring fresh perspectives to her roles as a school ambassador. Check out the Abbott Elementary trailer below and watch the first two episodes February 7 or the following day on Hulu!
7.) Term Two at Harley High is right around the corner as Heartbreak High returns April 11 on Netflix! The International Emmy Award-winning rebooted Australian series follows a diverse group of teens, including queer and non-binary student Darren Rivers (non-binary actor James Majoos), lesbian and autistic student Quinni Gallagher-Jones (neurodivergent advocate and Tik Tok star Chloe Hayden), asexual student Douglas “Ca$h” Piggott (actor Will McDonald), and many more. In the sophomore season, fresh hotties, a new sports teacher, a mystery assailant, and a race for school captain throw any hopes of a peaceful term into disarray. In more Netflix news, the streamer has confirmed the return of numerous LGBTQ-inclusive programs in 2024, including The Upshaws part five, That ‘90s Show season two, Elite season eight, The Umbrella Academy season four, Heartstopper season three, among others!
THEY’RE BACK BABES. Heartbreak High returns APRIL 11. pic.twitter.com/t20PnndwzA
— Netflix (@netflix) January 29, 2024
8.) Prime Video has debuted the trailer for adult animated sci-fi comedy The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, premiering February 23. In the series, Dr. Sleech (Stephanie Hsu) and Dr. Klak (Keke Palmer)—aliens, best friends, and intergalactically renowned surgeons—tackle anxiety-eating parasites, illegal time loops, and deep-space STIs. Check out the trailer below! The streamer also set out guest cast Bowen Yang, Abbi Jacobson and John Waters to join previously announced LGBTQ series regulars Sam Smith and Keke Palmer. Watch the trailer below!
9.) Queer multi-hyphenate Jojo Siwa has been set to return to So You Think You Can Dance as a judge on season 18! Watch the new season premiere on FOX March 4. In other TV news, FX has ordered the limited series Say Nothing, starring queer and non-binary actor Lola Petticrew. With out executive Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson’s Color Force producing, the nine-episode series tells an account of the troubles of Northern Ireland. Say Nothing is based on Patrick Radden Keefe’s book of the same name and will premiere exclusively on Hulu in the U.S.
View this post on Instagram
10.) Queer Persian pop artist Gia Woods has dropped a music video for her single “Your Engine,” featuring Europhia star Chloe Cherry. The video explores the link between sexuality, desire, and empowerment in a celebration of individuality and owning your identity; listen to Your Engine EP and check out the music video below! Queer Latin Grammy-nominated indie pop singer-songwriter Nicole Zignago has also released her new single “26 (ni tarde ni temprano)” with an accompanying visualizer. Finally, the much anticipated third studio album from non-binary rising star morgxn has arrived; listen to BEACON and watch the lyric video for new song “Backbone!”
See more articles from The GLAAD Wrap here.