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) The trailer for French romantic comedy Anaïs in Love has been released. The film follows Anaïs (Anaïs Demoustier), who is thinking of breaking up with her boyfriend while struggling professionally to complete her thesis. After an affair with middle-aged publisher Daniel (Denis Podalydès) quickly begins to fall apart, Anaïs discovers and becomes enchanted by the literary work of his wife, Emilie (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi). After a chance encounter with Emilie, Anais begins to pursue her and a flirtation begins to develop, ultimately turning into something much more meaningful for both women.
2) The trailer for Cold War romantic drama Firebird has dropped. Based on a true story that unfolded during the Cold War, Firebird is a love story set against the backdrop of a Soviet Air Force base in Estonia during late 1970s Communist rule. Sergey (Tom Prior), a young soldier who dreams of becoming an actor in Moscow, is counting the days until his military service ends. His life turns upside down when he locks eyes with Roman (Oleg Zagorodnii), an enigmatic ace fighter pilot newly assigned to his base. Sergey and Roman risk their lives to be together at a time when Soviet men in uniform caught having a sexual affair were met with the severest punishment.
3) Out lesbian actress Sara Gilbert has joined the cast for Tom Brady’s upcoming film 80 for Brady. The feature is inspired by the true story of four best friends and New England Patriots fans who take a life-changing trip to the 2017 Super Bowl to see their hero Brady play and the chaos that ensues as they navigate the wilds of the biggest sporting event in the country. In addition, out queer actor Harvey Guillén has been cast in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The long-awaited sequel follows the daring outlaw ‘Puss in Boots’ as he discovers that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll. Guillén will make his franchise debut in the role of Perro, Kitty and Puss’s canine associate.
4) The official teaser for season two of Gentleman Jack has been released. Set in 1834 in Yorkshire, Suranne Jones stars as Anne Lister, a convention-busting Victorian woman who embarks on a lesbian relationship with Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle). In season two, the now-married women intend to become a local power couple. In other teaser news, Netflix has dropped the first teaser trailer for upcoming queer romance series Heartstopper, out April 22, based on the graphic novel of the same name. When gentle Charlie and rugby-loving Nick meet at secondary school, they quickly discover that their unlikely friendship is blossoming into an unexpected romance. Charlie, Nick, and their circle of friends must navigate the ever-relatable journey of self-discovery and acceptance, supporting each other as they learn to find their most authentic selves. The show also stars Yasmin Finney, a trans actress who will play character Elle.
5) Netflix has released first photos and a date announcement video for season three of The Umbrella Academy, set to premiere on June 22. After putting a stop to 1963’s doomsday, the Umbrella Academy returns home to the present, but they realize things aren’t how they left them. Enter the Sparrow Academy, who immediately clash with the Umbrellas. Navigating challenges, losses, and surprises of their own —and dealing with an unidentified destructive entity wreaking havoc in the Universe— they need to convince Dad’s new and possibly better family to help them put right what their arrival made wrong. Out trans actor Elliot Page plays one of the Hargreeves siblings who is queer. Additionally, the season three trailer for The Boys has dropped. The series follows a group of vigilantes attempting to expose the truth about The Seven, a group of superheroes who abuse their superpowers rather than use them for good, and the multibillion dollar conglomerate that manages their images and covers up their dirty secrets. Dominique McElligot plays Queen Maeve, a disillusioned, bisexual member of The Seven with enhanced physical strength and durability.
6) Abbott Elementary has been renewed for a second season. The series follows a group of dedicated, passionate teachers —and a slightly tone-deaf principal— who are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life. Chris Perfetti plays Jacob Hill, an awkward gay history teacher who supports protagonist Janine Teagues’s (Quinta Brunson) mission to help the lives of their students. Additionally, the trailer for Vanessa Bayer’s upcoming comedy series I Love That For You is out. Inspired by Bayer’s own story of overcoming childhood leukemia, the show will see Joanna Gold move away from her parents, start a new romance and form meaningful friendships in her efforts to shed her life-long label as “that cancer girl”. However, to avoid getting fired after a mishap at work, she lies that her cancer is back. This one lie spirals into an avalanche of lies Joanna finds herself trapped under, all while struggling to survive in a highly competitive workplace where people play dirty to succeed. Out actor Matt Rogers will play Darcy, the ingratiating right-hand man to the CEO of a home-shopping network.
7) Season two of musical comedy series Girls5eva will premiere this May, and a first look teaser has been released. The cast includes out comedian and actress Paula Pell as one of the members of Girls5eva, a girl group that achieved fame in the year 2000 only to flame out after their one-hit-wonder and the tragic death of their lead member Ashley (Ashley Park) in an infinity pool accident. Two decades later, they reunite to perform when the song is sampled by an up-and-coming rapper, and decide to relaunch their group in a new era. Pell plays Gloria, lesbian dentist and self-proclaimed “always working one” of Girls5eva who also is divorced from her wife.
8) Out actress Fiona Shaw will join the cast for the television adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys. The show follows Charlie Nancy, a young man who is used to being embarrassed by his estranged father. But when his father dies, Charlie discovers that his father was Anansi: trickster god of stories. And he learns that he has a brother. Now his brother, Spider, is entering Charlie’s life, determined to make it more interesting but making it a lot more dangerous. Shaw will play Maeve Livingston. In other casting news, Peacock has announced new guest stars for the drama series Queer as Folk, including out Hacks star Megan Stalter and out 4400 star Calvin Seabrooks. The vibrant reimagining of the groundbreaking British series created by Russell T. Davies, explores a diverse group of friends in New Orleans whose lives are transformed in the aftermath of a tragedy.
‘White Lotus’ Alum Lukas Gage Among 4 New Guest Stars to Join ‘Queer as Folk’ Remake at Peacock https://t.co/Jet07Gn4hv
— TheWrap (@TheWrap) March 17, 2022
9) The trailer for the sixth and final season of Better Call Saul has been released. It previews the final chapter in public defender Jimmy McGill’s transformation into the criminal lawyer Saul Goodman, as well as new developments for gay drug and fried chicken kingpin Gus Fring, played by Giancarlo Esposito, and private eye Mike Ehrmantraut, portrayed by Johnathan Banks. Additionally, out queer actress, playwright, dramaturge and screenwriter Tanya Saracho will help develop 15 Candles, a reconfiguration of the world of John Hughes’s 16 Candles that follows four young Latinas starting high school as they overcome their feelings of invisibility while exploring what it means to leave childhood behind through the lens of the traditional female coming-of-age rite: the quinceañera.
10) MUNA have released the single for music video “Anyone But Me” off their upcoming self-titled album out this June, which they will go on tour for. Pre-order the album here, purchase tickets here, and watch the video below! Out singer King Princess has released a new video for her single “For My Friends.” Stream the single here and watch the video here!
11) In comic book news, both Marvel and DC will release Pride Month comic anthologies this coming June. The Marvel anthology will introduce a new queer hereo as well as stories for Hercules, Young Avengers, D-Man, and Guardians of the Galaxy’s Moondragon. DC’s anthology features an introduction by Nicole Maines (who played trans hero Dreamer on Supergirl), and it will also release pride variant covers for queer stories, including Nightwing, Superman, and Harley Quinn.
The DC Multiverse belongs to everyone! Join the #DCPride celebration this June, with even more stories coming all year long: https://t.co/3P2g3Fk0PA pic.twitter.com/gMlYrQa2LM
— DC (@DCComics) March 15, 2022
12) This year’s Annie Awards winners are dominated by queer-inclusive animation. GLAAD Media Award nominee FLEE won Independent Feature, GLAAD Media Award nominee The Mitchells vs. The Machines won eight different awards, and Arcane additionally took home nine different awards. In other awards season news, this year’s Critics Choice Awards winners include GLAAD Media Award nominee The Mitchells vs. The Machines (Best Animated Feature), out actress Ariana DeBose in West Side Story (Best Supporting Actress), and out actor Murray Bartlett in The White Lotus (Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television).