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 first trailer has been released for Ammonite, a queer period romance from out filmmaker Francis Lee. The film stars Kate Winslet as a geologist who is charged with taking care of a wealthy younger woman, and the two form a relationship that soon becomes romantic. Watch the trailer below.
2) The documentary Disarm Hate has been released on demand. The film follows nine LGBTQ+ advocates for gun control as they travel cross country to be part of a major rally event after the Pulse shooting in 2016. The film is narrated by out actor and writer Harvey Fierstein and executive produced by and starring activist Ashlee Marie Preston. Check out the trailer below, the film is available to rent or own through Amazon, Google Play, and more.
3) A trailer has been released for documentary Three Chords and a Lie, which follows gay country singer Brandon Stansell. The film shows his journey back to his hometown as an out and proud gay man, after his family has rejected him a decade previously. The film played at Outfest Film Festival last week; watch the trailer below. The first trailer has been released for Radha Blank’s The 40-Year-Old Version, produced by Lena Waithe. The film follows writer/director Blank as a version of herself who becomes a rapper after her playwrighting career has taken a downturn. The film won the directing prize and Vanguard Award at Sundance Film Festival. It will be released on Netflix October 9.
4) The upcoming Netflix film The Boys in the Band, produced by Ryan Murphy and directed by Joe Mantello, brings back the cast from the 2018 Broadway revival in the first trailer. The story takes place in 1968 New York when Michael (Jim Parsons) decides to throw a birthday party for his friend, bringing together their entire friend group of gay men, and the night gets dramatic from there as an unexpected guest and a game reveals new tensions. The cast stars out actors Jim Parsons, Matt Bomer, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Tuc Watkins, Brian Hutchison, Robin de Jesús, Charlie Carver, and Michael Benjamin Washington.The Boys in the Band premieres on Netflix on September 30.
5) HBO Max has announced the cast of upcoming docuseries Equal, which will be released in October. The cast includes Cheyenne Jackson, Anthony Rapp, Shannon Purser, Heather Matarazzo, Jamie Clayton, Isis King, Samira Wiley, Alexandra Grey, Theo Germaine, Keiynan Lonsdale, and more, all playing unsung heroes in the fight for LGBTQ equality.
Can’t wait for you all to meet my character Alexis. The passionate queer narrator that will take you through many emotionally driven stories that shaped queer history for many of us…. Reimagined. Equal mini series coming to @HBOMax via/@Variety pic.twitter.com/2n4owZBLMw
— Isis King (@MsIsisKing) August 24, 2020
6) The full cast has been announced for Ryan Murphy’s Netflix adaptation of musical The Prom, which follows a teen lesbian who isn’t allowed to take her girlfriend to prom, and the washed up Broadway actors who try to help her. The cast includes out actors Ariana De Bose, Jo Ellen Pellman, and Andrew Rannells, as well as celebrities such as Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Kerry Washington. The film will premiere on Netflix around Christmas of this year. In other casting news, Star Trek: Discovery this week announced the casting of actors Blu del Barrio and Ian Alexander as non-binary and transgender characters for the upcoming season. Newcomer Del Barrio plays a non-binary character named Adira who bonds with couple Stamets and Culber (out actors Anthony Rapp, Wilson Cruz), check out GLAAD’s interview for more. Alexander plays a Trill named Gray, a trans man, who has spent his life preparing to host a symbiotic alien.
7) YA Novel Felix Ever After, from out writer Kacen Callendar, will be adapted into a TV series from Amazon Studios. The book follows Black queer transgender teen Felix Love, who becomes caught up in a love triangle while seeking revenge for an anonymous attack by a transphobic student online. In more TV news, NBC has announced their new class for their Late Night Writers Workshop. Among the talent selected are out writers Sam O and Kate Sisk. The week-long virtual program prepares writers for staff roles on late night and comedy series. Read more about the writers here.
I’m sooooooo excited to announce this dream come true: Felix Ever After is being adapted into a TV series!!!https://t.co/czkrveDwIl
— kacen callender (@kacencallender) August 31, 2020
8) Wynonna Earp has released a teaser trailer for the second half of season four, after wrapping up the first half this week. The show, which features fan-favorite queer characters Waverly Earp and Nicole Haught, will return in 2021. Watch the teaser below. Queer model and actress Cara Delevingne has been announced as the host of a new docuseries Planet Sex for Hulu and BBC Three. The series will explore topics such as sexuality and gender identity and expression. ABC has picked up a new comedy from out lesbian filmmaker Nisha Ganatra. The show follows a romantic and her no-nonsense mom who run a matchmaking businesses in Little India.
9) Queer singer Halsey has released a live version of her 2015 album Badlands on its fifth anniversary. Click here to stream Badlands: Live from Webster Hall. Pop duo Disclosure has dropped a new single “Birthday,” which features queer artists Kehlani and Syd. Stream the single here. Queer singer Shamir released a new single “Running” and an accompanying music video. Stream the song here and watch the video below.
10) The MTV VMAs were held on Sunday. Out winners include Lady Gaga in Artist of the Year as well as the reciepient of the inaugural Tricon Award. Miley Cyrus also received awards for Best Art Direction and Best Editing. The show was hosted by out actress Keke Palmer. See the full list of winners here.
11) Out actress Kiersey Clemons is starring and executive producing in a new podcast, Ghost Tape. The horror podcast will follow Tessa Dixon, who discovers a tape left from her grandfather on a remote army base, and unleashes manifestations of terrible things her family has done. In more podcast news, out creators Rickey Thompson and Denzel Dion have signed on to create a weekly Spotify Podcast, which is still untitled.
12) Queer comics anthology Be Gay, Do Comics was released on Tuesday. The graphic novel is filled with stories from LGBTQ authors and cartoonists about different queer experiences, including Hazel Newlevant, Joey Alison Sayers, Maia Kobabe, Matt Lubchansky, Breena Nuñez, Sasha Velour, and more! Order the anthology here. Another graphic novel, Wonder Women of History from DC Comics, was also announced this week. The book includes stories on notable women, including LGBTQ activists Edith Windsor, Marsha P. Johnson, Emma Gonzalez, Tig Notaro, and Janelle Monae; on sale December 1 with pre-order now available.
13) The second edition of children’s book An ABC of Equality was released on September 1. The new hardcover edition features new words, and a new author introduction, by out author Chana Ginelle Ewing. The book is meant to spark conversations around equality through an intersectional approach. An ABC of Equality is available wherever books are sold.