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) The first trailer has been released for 20th Century’s Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. An adaptation of the acclaimed West End musical, the film follows Jamie New, a sixteen-year-old with dreams of becoming a drag queen. The musical shows him overcoming prejudice, with the support of his mom and friends, to achieve his dreams of becoming a performer. The film will be released on February 26; watch the trailer below.
2) The filmed version of GLAAD Media Award-nominated play What the Constitution Means to Me will be released on Amazon today. The play tackles issues relating to the constitution, women’s rights, immigration and more. It features out actor Mike Iverson in several roles, including himself as he relays the realities of being gay in this country. What the Constitution Means to Me is currently streaming on Amazon.
3) A trailer has been released for Sundance hit I Carry You With Me. The film follows Iván, an aspiring chef in ‘90s Mexico who falls in love with teacher Gerardo, and, when they are caught, tries to cross the border into the United States. The film is set to be released on January 8; watch the trailer below. Out Pier Kids filmmaker Elegance Bratton has signed on to direct upcoming documentary Hellfighters. The film will follow James Reese Europe, a jazz musician who served in WW1 in the Black military unit called the Harlem Hellfighters. Out singer and actor Ricky Martin has been cast in Netflix’s Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, a live-action musical film coming to the streamer in November. Martin will play Don Juan Diego, a toy matador in the movie about a toymaker on Christmas.
4) The first trailer for the third season of American Gods has been released. The show features out gay characters Salim, and the third season will introduce Pose actor Dominique Jackson in a new role for this third season. The season will premiere on Starz in early 2021. Disney Plus has announced a holiday special for their GLAAD Media Award-winning show High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. The special includes the full cast includes out actors Frankie Rodriguez and Joe Serafini, who play gay characters Carlos and Seb. The special will air on Disney Plus on December 11.
5) The first look has been released for series It’s a Sin from out creator Russell T. Davies. The show stars out singer and actor Olly Alexander and Neil Patrick Harris, among others, and focuses on the AIDS crisis of the ‘80s over the course of the decade. The show will air on Channel 4 in the U.K. Ryan Murphy and Janet Mock will be collaborating on a new Netflix limited series, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, which will focus on the police’s mishandling of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Murphy will executive produce, while Mock will write and co-direct the series.
6) Out How to Get Away with Murder executive producer Pete Nowalk has a new show in the works with Valley of the Gods, “a sexy, high-stakes drama about the most powerful people in Silicon Valley and the hungry, underestimated outsiders trying to claw their way in.” The show has received production commitment from ABC. Netflix has ordered new series First Kill, a show which follows teenage vampire Juliette who aims to make her first kill the new girl Calliope, but finds out that Calliope is a vampire hunter, and the two end up falling for each other. Showtime’s Shameless, which features several queer characters in its ensemble, has announced that its 11th and final season will premiere on December 6. MTV International is rebooting classic series MTV Cribs, which will debut in 2021. Subjects of the new version of Cribs include LGBTQ celebrities Caitlyn Jenner, Kevin McHale, and Alyssa Edwards.
Emma Roberts will executive produce First Kill, a young adult vampire series about Juliette’s "first kill" … who might also be her first love.
Felicia D. Henderson will write, showrun, and executive produce the series based on the short story by Victoria “V. E.” Schwab pic.twitter.com/ShcWEVznjA
— Netflix Queue (@netflixqueue) October 15, 2020
7) A24 has announced an adaptation of upcoming novel Memorial for television. The film follows Mike and Benson, a Japanese-American chef and a Black day care teacher, who live together and are unsure of their relationship status, when Mike has to leave to care for his dying father, making Benson and Mike’s mother unconventional roommates. Out creator Chris Nee has announced three new children’s series that are coming to Netflix. These include Ridley Jones, a pre-school series following a six-year-old protecting the museum she lives in; Spirit Rangers, a fantasy adventure series follow three Native American siblings who can transform into animal spirits; and Dino Daycare; a show that follows a six-year-old boy who helps care for baby dinosaurs.
Thrilled to get to announce the slate for my company Laughing Wild at @netflix – this is what I've been doing for the last year and a half. So so proud of each and every one of these shows. They represent my values perfectly! I get to work with the best people. https://t.co/4mnZZK2Mbt
— Chris Nee (@chrisdocnee) October 15, 2020
8) In casting news, out actor and writer Paula Pell is the newest addition to Girls5eva, an upcoming Peacock comedy about a girl group who is shot back into fame decades later. Pell will play Gloria, who is now a dentist and out of the closet, and wants more from life than looking after her father. Out actor Conrad Ricamora has been cast in a recurring role on The Resident as Jake Wong, a gay plastic surgeon who is also a singer/songwriter. He will appear in the Fox show’s upcoming fourth season. Out actor Bex Taylor-Klaus has been cast in ABC pilot Triage, a medical drama that takes place over three decades at a hospital. They will play Leo, a gender-fluid intern at the hospital, over the course of two different decades. Out actor Darryl Stephens has been cast as a recurring role in in upcoming CBS comedy B Positive, as Gideon a nurse working at a dialysis center. Linda Lavin has also been cast as Norma, an older woman who only recently came out as a lesbian.
‘Girls5eva’: ‘SNL’ Alum Paula Pell Joins Peacock Comedy From Tina Fey – Deadline. SO EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS! https://t.co/cBf3DxDMCK
— Paula Pell (@perlapell) October 6, 2020
9) Last week, Against Me! singer and out trans woman Laura Jane Grace released a new solo album Stay Alive, a surprise release which touches on several relevant themes for 2020. Download and stream the album here. Out singer Demi Lovato released a new track Commander in Chief, which highlights the importance of getting involved in the election process. Listen to the song here. Out singer King Princess released a new single today, “Only Time Makes It Human.” Check out the song here and watch the music video below!
10) Out country star Cameron Hawthorn released his debut EP Mustang last week. Listen to the album here! Out singer Elton John is the newest collaborator with band Gorillaz on their latest single “The Pink Phantom,” which also features rapper 6LACK. Watch the video here! Out singer Brittany Campbell released her newest single “Champion” last week, with an accompanying music video. Listen to the song here and watch the video below!
11) The nominations have been announced for the 2020 Tony Awards. Among the nominees are GLAAD Media Award nominated shows Jagged Little Pill, which is up for fifteen Tonys including Best Musical, and Slave Play, up for twelve awards including Best Play. GLAAD Media Award Recipient The Inheritance, up for eleven nominations including Best Play. See the full list of nominees here. In more theater news, Drag Race alums Monét X Change and Courtney Act will be heading the West End in London for the murder mystery Death Drop, an all-drag murder mystery set in 1991 at a dinner party. The show will begin previews on December 3 and open on December 10.
#JaggedLittleBroadway is thrilled to receive 15 #TonyAward nominations, including Best Musical! Thank you to our incredible cast, crew, band, and creative team for always leading with your heart and embracing every ounce of human-ness—these honors are yours. @TheTonyAwards pic.twitter.com/qkCeAIKUlN
— Jagged Little Pill (@jaggedmusical) October 15, 2020
12) The Billboard Music Awards were held on Wednesday night. LGBTQ winners include out singer and rapper Lil Nas X, who won three awards for “Old Town Road,” as well as wins for Panic! At The Disco and Elton John. See the full list of winners here.
13) Out comedians Alysia Brown, Sarah Aument, and Sophie Dinicol have created a new comedy scripted podcast Tampon Rock for iHeart Podcast Network. The show follows two lesbian characters in a band called The GOAL (The Greatest of All Lesbians) in Oakland, navigating the music scene and their dating lives. The show will launch on December 3.
co-wrote/created 'TAMPON ROCK' with my babes @esscdee and @alysiabr0wn – premieres Dec 3rd on @iHeartRadio #lgbtq #lesbian #comedy #podcast https://t.co/kpDqRgYUs6
— s. aument (@SarahAument) October 13, 2020