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) Gay Taiwanese film Your Name Engraved Herein is now on Netflix. The film is about two high school boys in an all-male boarding school exploring their friendship and love for each other against the backdrop of 1980s Taiwan, when the country lifted its strict martial law and started to shift from a conservative society to a more LGBTQ-friendly one. Watch the trailer below and catch the film on the streamer today! In other film news, the trailer for British gay film Supernova has been released by Bleecker Street. The film follows a gay couple (Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci), partners for 20 years, as they reunite with family and friends after one of them is diagnosed with early onset dementia. The film is scheduled to be released on January 29; watch the trailer here!
2) In more film news, documentary The Sound of Identity has received distribution from Shout! Studios. The film follows Lucia Lucas, the first out trans woman to perform a principal role in an opera. The Sound of Identity is set to be released across all platforms, with no date announced as of yet. Watch the trailer below. In more film distribution news, Wolfe Releasing has picked up the rights to drama The Obituary of Tunde Johnson. The film focuses on a young, Black teenager who is killed by police during a traffic stop and must relive the tragic events through a time loop. The film deals with topics such as racism, police brutality, LGBTQ acceptance, mental health, and addiction. It will get a theatrical and digital release on February 26. Watch a TIFF Q&A with the cast and crew here.
3) In other film news, out actress Keirsey Clemons has been cast in upcoming film Susie Searches, as the titular Susie, a college student who investigates the mysterious disappearance of a classmate using a true crime podcast. The comedic thriller will be directed by Sophie Kargman. In other casting news, out bi singer Halsey has been cast in upcoming animated feature Sing 2 as the character of Porsche, the teenage daughter of wolf Jimmy Crystal (Bobby Cannavale). Matt Bomer is set to voice the character of The Flash in DC Universe animated film Justice Society: World War II. The project will be the first DC movie to feature the Justice Society of America.
4) In TV news, docuseries History of Swear Words was recently released on Netflix. Hosted by Nicholas Cage, the series takes a look at the history and impact of some of the most infamous English swear words. The series features out actors and comedians Joel Kim Booster and Patti Harrison. Watch a clip from the show featuring Booster below, and the full trailer here. In more Netflix news, the docu-series Pretend It’s a City is out now on the streamer. The show, directed by and featuring Martin Scorsese, takes a look at legendary lesbian writer and public speaker Fran Lebowitz. Watch the trailer here.
5) In other TV news, the trailer for RuPaul’s Drag Race U.K. Season 2 has been released! The newest iteration of the franchise premieres Thursday, January 14 on the BBC Three iPlayer. Fans in the U.S. can catch it the same day on WOW Presents Plus at 2pm. In more Drag Race news, Canada’s Drag Race has confirmed that Season 2 of the series will return in 2021. Casting for the newest season is currently open; apply here!
6) In more TV news, the trailer for new series It’s a Sin has been released. The show, created by Queer as Folk writer Russell T. Davies, examines the AIDS crisis in Britain during the 1980s, and features out actors Olly Alexander (from pop band Years & Years), Neil Patrick Harris, and Stephen Fry. The series is due on Channel 4 in the UK within the next few months, and on HBO Max in the US later this year. Watch the trailer below and a first look clip from the series here. In more trailer news, the teaser trailer for HBO docu-series The Lady and the Dale has been released. Co-directed by trans artist Zackary Drucker, the four-part series traces the audacious story of Elizabeth Carmichael, an entrepreneur who rose to prominence during the 1970s oil crisis with her promotion of a fuel-efficient, three-wheeled car known as “The Dale.” Also featuring trans academic Susan Stryker, the series debuts on HBO with two back-to-back episodes on Sunday, January 31 at 9pm. Watch the trailer here!
7) In further TV news, more pictures and character descriptions from the HBO Max Gossip Girl reboot have been released. While it’s still unclear which characters will be queer or not, it is known that out queer actor and singer-songwriter Jordan Alexander is playing the character Julien Calloway; out trans model and actress Zion Moreno will portray the character Luna La (featured below); and out gay actor and Broadway star Jason Gotay will be featured in the series. The reboot is due on the streamer later this year.
8) In more TV news, Amazon’s The Wilds, which features queer characters in the ensemble of teenage girls stranded on an island, has been renewed for a second season, just a week after its first season premiered. Watch the announcement video below! In other TV news, Freeform’s Good Trouble has announced a February 17 premiere date for its third season. The show features several queer characters in its ensemble. Watch the announcement teaser here. In further TV news, queer actor Devery Jacobs is one of the announced cast members for upcoming FX series Reservation Dogs from filmmaker Taika Watiti. The show follows four Native teens who fight and commit crime in rural Oklahoma.
did someone say season 2?? #TheWilds pic.twitter.com/ZVDe1sFfx0
— The Wilds (@thewildsonprime) December 19, 2020
9) In TV development news, NBC is developing a new drama series Look at Me, inspired by the life of out deaf model, actor, and advocate Nyle DiMarco. DiMarco will be a producer on the project as well, which is an ensemble story about a multigenerational deaf family living under one roof. In other TV development news, filmmakers and gay couple Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz have a new series in development for HBO Max. The show, Inkwell, will follow a group of wealthy Black surfers who are suddenly forced to batter with a mysterious dark power.
Excited about this @NBC series with @neilmeron! https://t.co/C4yPj9hPan
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) December 19, 2020
10) Pansexual musician Brooke Candy recently released a music video for her song “Cum” featuring Iggy Azalea. The video features a number of queer performers such as Shea Coulee, Detox, Aquaria, Crystal Methyd, Yasmine Petty, and Francois Sagat, among others. Watch the video below. In more music video news, queer musician St. Vincent has released a video of her cover of The Beatles’ track “Martha My Dear,” performed for the Ally Coalition Annual Talent Show to benefit homeless LGBTQ youth. Watch the peformance here.
11) Out singer Miley Cyrus has released a new song in memory of her pet dog Mary Jane, who has died. Listen to the song “Mary Jane 5EVR” below. In other Miley news, out singer Elton John is set to appear on a forthcoming Miley album of Metallica covers. Elton John will play piano on the cover of the song “Nothing Else Matters.”
12) Out trans artist and activist Angelica Ross has teamed up with trans artist Mila Jam and musician Ultra Naté for empowering new single “Fierce.” Stream the song below on Spotify! Proceeds from the single will go to GLAAD, The Sylvia Rivera Law Project, and The Marsh P. Johnson Institue. A new remix to girl-group Citizen Queen’s song “Call Me Queen” was released this week. Listen to the Frank Pole remix of the single here. Queer girl-group MUNA also released a remix of Marina single “Man’s World.” Listen to the song here!
Tonight!
Tickets available at https://t.co/Owx7BFr1fs
$2 from every ticket purchase will be donated to @SaveTheChildren#ABowieCelebration #JustForOneDay @DavidBowieReal @rollinglivepro pic.twitter.com/bVBdv1pxHJ— ADAM LAMBERT (@adamlambert) January 8, 2021
14) In podcast news,
Laverne Cox will be launching a new podcast produced by Shondaland, where she has conversations with guests which provoke new thoughts and outlooks. The show will premiere in February 2021. In more podcast news, out actor Zachary Quinto will be starring and producing in a podcast series Scripted Court, which follows incidents at Harvard a hundred years ago where gay students were sought out and purged from the records of the school following a classmate’s death by suicide.
15) In book release news,
the novel Outlawed by Anna North was released this week. The story is an alt-history feminist western set in a world in which women who are unable to bear children are tried for witchcraft. A barren woman, Ada, meets up with a notorious band of outlaws and must leave everything she knows behind. Buy your copy at a local bookstore today. In more book release news, The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr. is out this week. This debut novel is about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence. Buy your copy today!