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.) Stay Awake, a drama film about the struggles of the opioid epidemic, is out today. The film follows two brothers as they navigate the cycle of finding their mother passed out on drugs, bringing her to the hospital, and begging her to go to rehab. One of the two brothers, Derek, is played by gay genderqueer actor Fin Argus. Check out Stay Awake, in select theaters!
2.) A trailer for the upcoming musical comedy Theater Camp was released this week, giving us a closer look into the failing camp and those trying to save it! Theater Camp picks up after the founder of an upstate New York theater camp falls into a coma, and follows the eccentric staff as they try to keep the camp afloat. The film was co-written by husbands Noah Galvin and Ben Platt, and the pair co-star in the film as well, along with an ensemble cast that includes out talent Patti Harrison and Nathan Lee Graham. Don’t miss Theater Camp when it arrives in theaters on July 14!
3.) The teaser for Netflix’s upcoming animated adventure film Nimona came out this week. Based on ND Stevenson’s comic series of the same name, the show follows main character Nimona, a shapeshifting teen, as she is targeted in an assassination attempt by a knight, but everything quickly becomes much more complicated. The comic is beloved in queer spaces for its inclusivity, and the casting reflects that. Queer Try Guys member and actor Eugene Lee Yang plays a central role, with other queer cast members RuPaul, Indya Moore, and Julio Torres in undisclosed roles. Catch Nimona on Netflix on June 30!
4.) Queer actress Natalie Morales has been tapped to co-lead the upcoming dark comedy My Dead Friend Zoe. The film follows a female veteran who finds herself constantly communicating with her dead best friend from the army (Morales). When she is tasked with taking care of her Vietnam vet grandfather, struggles ensue. Stay tuned for more updates on My Dead Friend Zoe!
Ed Harris, Sonequa Martin-Green & Natalie Morales Board Dark Veteran Dramedy ‘My Dead Friend Zoe’ https://t.co/6qacWexAVg pic.twitter.com/Ks2uH0zJBH
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) May 17, 2023
5.) The trailer for the upcoming animated show Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai was released this week! Acting as a prequel to the 1984 cult-classic horror film Gremlins, the show depicts how Mogwai’s original owner came to meet him. The show features a number of queer voice actors, including BD Wong in the main cast, and Bowen Yang, and George Takei in guest roles. Be sure to check out Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, May 23 on HBO Max.
6.) Paramount+ has unveiled a new pansexual reality dating series titled Love Allways! The show centers Lexi Paloma as a bachelorette, slowly narrowing down her group of suitors until eventually one is chosen. However, in the process, some of the pansexual contestants fall for each other, leading to chaos in the game. There are two teams as well, each assigned a coach, who hopes that Lexi ultimately chooses one of their singles. We can’t wait to see how this turns out. Catch the first three episodes of Love Allways on Paramount+ June 2.
ALL is fair in love and war and the tea is HOT. See you June 2nd @paramountplus #ParamountPlus #LoveALLways pic.twitter.com/0ZOEG4jfAv
— Awesomeness (@awesomenesstv) May 15, 2023
7.) The premiere date for season two of And Just Like That…, the popular Sex and the City reboot, was announced this week! The show follows Carrie and the gang (minus Samantha) as they navigate life in their 50s, which is a bit different from their 30s. Season two returns with Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Anthony catching up after all that’s happened during the break. The show features a number of queer characters, including co-lead Miranda, her non-binary love interest Che, and Anthony, a gay event planner. Don’t miss the first two episodes of And Just Like That…, premiering June 22 on HBO Max.
8.) Upcoming BBC drama The Way has added queer actors Luke Evans and Callum Scott Howells to its cast. The show follows the Driscoll family as they are forced to leave their hometown in the midst of a civil uprising. Stay tuned for more news about The Way!
9.) In music news this week, queer indie-pop rising star Gatlin’s new song “When You’re Breaking My Heart” dropped Wednesday, alongside an official music video, and queer pop artist Ralph’s new single “Pain Relief” came out today, off her forthcoming 222 EP; check out the music video! Queer pop trio Hyphen Hyphen debuted a music video for their single “Symphony,” and transmasculine artist Jakk Fynn has released a new EP titled Can’t Look Back; watch the music video for the title track “Can’t Look Back” below, featuring an all-queer cast and created by a predominantly queer crew! Additionally, out singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tatiana DeMaria has released her new single “Open Wide” and non-binary dark pop artist and advocate for autism awareness Elliot Lee has shared their new single “Fun.”
10.) San Francisco’s International LGBTQ Film Festival Frameline47 has revealed its official lineup, full of funny and fascinating films that provide a multifaceted look at queer life in all its messy glory! The 47th annual festival features over a hundred highly-anticipated LGBTQ films during the June 14-24 in-person event, which will be followed by a “streaming encore” from June 24-July 2; get your tickets now and check out the full film guide!
11.) The trailer for gay comedian John Early’s upcoming HBO comedy special, John Early: Now More than Ever, was released this week! The special features an unconventional format and Early’s particular brand of humor, which includes covers of Britney Spears and Neil Young in the mix of musical numbers, sketch comedy, and stand-up. Don’t miss John Early: Now More than Ever on HBO June 17.
12.) Lesbian comedian Alison Bechdel’s long-running comic series Dykes to Watch Out For is coming to Audible, with an all-star cast attached to take the comic to new heights. The comics follow Mo and a host of other women, including friends and exes, as they navigate life and love. The cast of the new Audible series includes bisexual actor and musician Carrie Brownstein, queer actor Roberta Colindrez, bisexual writer and icon Roxane Gay, queer actor Jenn Colella, and lesbian actor and tracksuit-wearer Jane Lynch. Dykes to Watch Out For will stream exclusively on Audible starting June 1. Don’t miss it!
Roxane Gay, Carrie Brownstein, Roberta Colindrez, Jane Lynch, and more queer faves will star in the Audible version of Alison Bechdel’s Dykes to Watch Out For! https://t.co/ntGqSfuRB9
— Autostraddle (@autostraddle) May 16, 2023
13.) The first look at the upcoming West End adaptation of Brokeback Mountain was released this week! The play is based on Anne Proulx’s short story, not the Ang Lee film of the same name. The now-famous story follows two cowboys who fall in love in Wyoming and the trials and tribulations that come with queer romance. The play opened last week and runs until August 12, so get tickets now!
14.) The BAFTA TV Awards ceremony took place this week, with a number of queer-inclusive projects and queer performers taking home awards. The Traitors, hosted by out actor Alan Cumming, won for “Reality and Constructed Factual,” Bad Sisters won “Drama Series,” Derry Girls won “Scripted Comedy,” and queer comedian Joe Lycett’s Joe Lycett vs. Beckham won in “Features.” Out actor Ben Whishaw also won “Leading Actor” for his role in This is Going to Hurt. Click here for the full list of winners!
15.) The Critic’s Choice Real TV Award nominees were released this week. RuPaul’s Drag Race, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, and RuPaul himself received a number of looks, including “Best Competition Series” for both Drag Race shows, “Best Ensemble Cast in a Scripted Series” for All Stars, and “Best Show Host” and “Star of the Year” for RuPaul. RuPaul hosted show Lingo also got a nomination for “Best Game Show.” Drag Race All Stars 3 winner Trixie Mattel was also nominated for her Discovery+ show Trixie Motel, getting looks in “Best Lifestyle Show: Home/Garden” and “Best Show Host,” competing against Ru! Alan Cumming hosted show The Traitors was nominated for “Best Competition Series,” and My Kind of Country, which featured gay coach Orville Peck, was nominated for “Best Competition: Talent/Variety.” The recent season of Dancing with the Stars, which features Drag Race alum Shangela, was nominated for “Best Competition Series: Talent/Variety” and “Best Ensemble Cast in a Scripted Series.” Queer actor Dan Levy’s show The Big Brunch was nominated for “Best Culinary Show,” and gay influencer Bretman Rock’s MTV’s Following: Bretman Rock was nominated for “Best Unstructured Series.” Finally, makeup show Glow Up and the iconic makeover show Queer Eye were both nominated for “Best Lifestyle Show: Fashion/Beauty.” Check out the full list of nominees here!
16.) Cook Serve Forever is a deliciously animated culinary adventure that follows Nori Kaga and her dream to be recognized as a home-taught chef. Fueled by her passion for cooking and the support of her girlfriend, Brie, Nori has her eyes set on getting her name in the Couteau d’Or, a book that chronicles the world’s greatest chefs. Friends and foes populate the world at every corner, each with their own story that players can explore while juggling the everyday responsibilities of managing a hectic food cart. Follow her and her girlfriend’s journey in this fully voice-acted, story-driven game that welcomes newcomers to the Cook Serve series that gamers know and love. Cook Serve Forever is available to purchase on PS4, Xbox One, and Steam.