The GLAAD Wrap: ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ in theaters, trailer for ‘Spencer,’ new music from Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato, Elton John and more!

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) Universal Pictures’ film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen is in theaters now. The movie features out actors Ben Platt as Evan Hansen, a high school senior with Social Anxiety disorder, Amandla Stenberg as Alana Beck, and Nik Dodani as queer student Jared Keinman. Buy tickets here! The long-awaited trailer for NEON and Tropic Studio’s Spencer, starring queer actress Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana, has been released. The film is set at the royal family’s Sandringham estate during the Christmas holidays, when Diana decides to leave her marriage with Prince Charles. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 3, with a domestic release date of November 5, 2021. 

2) Universal Studios has set an August 12, 2022 release date for out comedian Billy Eichner’s Bros— the first gay romantic comedy from a major studio. The film will feature an all-LGBTQ principal cast, including, transgender stars Ts Madison, gender non-conforming actor Miss Lawrence, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 13 winner Symone, and gay actors Guillermo Diaz and Guy Branum. Out oscar-winning Milk screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black, is also producing a new horror feature for Wayward Entertainment and XYZ Films. Rift, the English-language adaptation of Erlingur Thoroddsen’s Icelandic film, will follow the relationship between two men in the face of supernatural activity, grief, and emotional chaos.

3) Hallmark announces their upcoming sequel to The Christmas House, the channel’s first original holiday movie featuring a same-sex couple. The new film will reunite the original cast for a heated competition to see who can create the best ‘Christmas house.’ In other film news, non-binary and transgender actor Theo Germaine has been announced as the new star of an upcoming Blumhouse horror film. Directed by out Oscar-nominated John Logan, the untitled film, formerly known as Whistler Camp, will share an LGBTQIA+ empowerment story set at a conversion therapy camp. Out Hacks star Hannah Einbinder has been named an honoree for the Women in Film 2021 WIF Honors, along with Zendaya, Marlee Matlin, and Hack’s co-star Jean Smart— which advocates for equity across intersectional identities. Watch GLAAD’s interview with Einbinder below!

4) Queer actress Devery Jacobs has joined the writing staff of FX on Hulu’s coming-of-age comedy Reservation Dogs. Jacobs currently stars on the show, and will be added to the all-Indigenous writer’s room for the upcoming second season. Additionally, the fourth and final season of TNT’s Claws will premiere on Sunday, December 26, 2021. The comedy-drama series will continue to follow Desna Simms, played by out actress Neicy Nash-Betts, and her crew of manicurists, including lesbian character Quiet Ann (Judy Reyes), as they navigate the ever-changing crime world in South Florida.

5) The Starz crime series Hightown will return with a second season on Sunday, October 17, 2021. Starring out actress Monica Raymund as lesbian investigator Jackie Quiñones, season two will bring a variety of new characters, challenges and twists— including Jackie’s new partner Renee Segna, played by Riley Voelkel. In other TV news, gay writer Russell T. Davies will also be returning to Doctor Who in BBC’s cult sci-fi series after a 12 year hiatus.

6) Saturday Night Live returns for its 47th season on October 2, 2021, with live shows airing on NBC and livestreaming on Peacock. Musical guests include out Grammy-nominated Halsey on October 9, and out Grammy Award winner Brandi Carlile on October 23. Halsey also released a new music video this week— a live version of her single “I Am Not a Woman, I’m a God,” off of her new album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power. Watch it below!

7) Out singer and LGBTQ+ advocate Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett announced their second collaborative album entitled Love for Sale. It is scheduled for release on October 1, 2021, through Columbia and Interscope Records. Out singer and songwriter Elton John also teamed up with Charlie Puth to release the new song “After All”, which is part of his album of collaborations “The Lockdown Sessions”, out October 22 via Interscope Records.

8) Non-binary star Demi Lovato and rapper G-Eazy released their new collaborative song “Breakdown”, which will be featured on his upcoming album These Things Happen Too. Also, out singer k.d. lang’s infamous 1992 song “Constant Craving” was remixed by lesbian DJ and Grammy Award winner, Tracy Young. Queer singer Gia Woods shared the third single, “Next Girlfriend”, of her upcoming album Heartbreak County. Gay singer and songwriter Wrabel released his debut album “these words are all for you” via Big Gay Records/Nettwork.

9) Grammy Award and GLAAD Media Award-winning singer Melissa Etheridge has shared a new Director’s Cut music video for her single “As Cool As You Try”. The digital album One Way Out is available now and in stores October 1, 2021. Watch the video below. Additionally, non-binary producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist BIIANCO shared their second single from their album Mixtape #2, entitled “pins and needles.” Lesbian singer and songwriter Zolita released a new music video to her song “Somebody I F*cked Once”, featuring out model and social media star Tatiana Ringsby. 

10) New York Times bestselling author Casey McQuiston’s latest novel, I Kissed Shara Wheeler, will hit shelves on May 3rd, 2022. Following the success of Red, White and Royal Blue and One Last Stop, McQuiston’s new novel will be a queer teen love story with an added mystery component.