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) Queer actress and singer-songwriter Cynthia Erivo has been set to produce and lead the cast of upcoming film Drift, alongside out Arrested Development star Alia Shawkat. Drift explores themes of hope, resilience, and hardship, as it follows a young refugee named Jacqueline (Erivo), who just barely escapes Liberia to a Greek island. Along the way, Jacqueline develops a deep connection with a tour guide (Shawkat).
2) Non-binary actor Celeste O’Connor will star in the film Madame Web with Sydney Sweeney and Dakota Johnson. Based on the Marvel comics, the film is an origin story of the psychic clairvoyant and will feature the first female character within the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel. Watch Madame Web in theaters July 7, 2023! In more film news, out actor, director, and writer Stephen Fry has announced his new project for Channel 4 in the UK: Willem and Frieda, a documentary about two queer artists, Willem Arondeus and Frieda Belinfante, who risked their lives to help Jews escape persecution in the Netherlands during World War II. In the documentary, Fry will interview historians, visit locations of the original events, and share his personal experience fighting for LGBTQ rights and social justice in the modern world.
Really looking forward to filming this and discovering more about these extraordinary people… https://t.co/2ZIuNHXfd2
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) May 22, 2022
3) Hulu and Disney+ have released the trailer for the third and final season of the series Love, Victor. In the season, Victor goes on a journey of self-discovery, not only deciding who he wants to be with– longtime boyfriend Benji or new romantic interest Rahim– but also who he wants to be. With high school graduation looming ahead, Victor and his friends must make difficult decisions for their futures. Love, Victor features numerous LGBTQ characters in the ensemble. The new season premieres with all eight episodes on the streamers June 15, watch the trailer below!
4) Netflix’s queer young adult show Heartstopper has been renewed for two additional seasons. The series, based off of out author Alice Oseman’s best-selling graphic novel, follows teens Charlie and Nick, whose unlikely friendship blossoms into something more. Their circle of friends must navigate their own journey of self-discovery and acceptance, while supporting each other as they learn to find their most authentic selves. Heartstopper has a plethora of queer characters, including two lesbian students, Tara and Darcy, and a transgender student, Elle Argent, played by out trans actress Yasmin Finney.
5) Amazon has picked up two seasons of the sci-fi animated comedy The Hospital, starring out singer-songwriter Sam Smith, alongside Maya Rudolph, Natasha Lyonne, Keke Palmer and more! The series follows inseparable best friends and alien surgeons, Sleech and Klak, as they risk their careers to take on their most challenging case yet. Smith will voice-star as Dr. Anzel, a galactically-renowned surgeon with six impeccably-manicured feet.
With this star-studded list of names, we’re ready for Animal Pictures and Titmouse’s animated sci-fi comedy series #TheHospital to arrive on @PrimeVideo, stat! pic.twitter.com/vueHbnGtE4
— Amazon Studios (@AmazonStudios) May 23, 2022
6) Out Grammy-winning singer and actor Ricky Martin has been set to star in Apple TV+ period comedy piece Mrs. American Pie. Based on the popular novel by Juliet McDaniel, the series follows Maxine Simmons (Kristen Wiig) in her attempt to secure a spot at the exclusive Palm Beach high society. Set in the early 1970’s, Mrs. American Pie begs the questions: “Who gets a seat at the table”, “How do you get a seat at the table” and “What will you sacrifice to get there?” Martin will play the male lead Robert. In more TV casting news, out actress, director, and producer Jodie Foster has been set to lead and exec produce the fourth iteration of HBO’s True Detective franchise, True Detective: Night Country. Foster will play Detective Liz Danvers, who works with her partner Evengeline Navarro to solve the case of six mysteriously vanishing men from the Tsalal Arctic Research Station.
Jodie Foster to Star in ‘True Detective’ Season 4 at HBO https://t.co/qjcYxBW7o1
— Variety (@Variety) May 26, 2022
7) “Lesbian Jesus” singer-songwriter Hayley Kiyoko has released an official music video for her single “For The Girls”. Stream the song here and pre-save her upcoming album Panorama, out July 29, here; watch the Bachelorette-style music video below! In other music news, queer alternative duo Boyish has released their EP My Friend Mica, which features the single “Legs”; stream the EP here and watch the official lyric video for “Legs” here.
9) Out singer-songwriter ABISHA has released her new single “Everything Falls Into Place” ft. Double S; stream it here and watch the official music video below! In more music news, queer Persian pop artist Gia Woods has released the first single “Hello” off of her upcoming EP Heartbreak Country Vol. 2; stream the song here! Additionally, out pop and R&B artist Rayvon Owen has released the music video for his new single “Faraway Lover” (watch it here). Out alternative pop singer-songwriter Isaac Dunbar has also dropped his highly-anticipated EP Banish The Banshee (stream it here).
10) Frameline46 San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival has announced its complete program, spanning from narrative features and documentaries to episodics and short programs. This year’s theme is “The Coast is Queer”. Celebrate the festival’s 100th birthday with more than 125 films from over 30 countries in-person June 16-26 or online June 24-30. Buy your tickets today and watch the trailer below!