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) A new romcom from Sony, Broken Hearts Gallery, opened in select theaters and drive-ins this past Friday, September 11. The film follows a young art gallery assistant in New York City who decides to create an exhibit of souvenirs from previous relationships after her boyfriend dumps her, and the idea goes viral. Hamilton’s Phillipa Soo stars as Nadine, the lesbian best friend of the film’s lead. Check out the trailer below, and find how to watch the film near you.
2) The documentary Mr. SOUL! is playing in select virtual theaters through September 24. The documentary follows Elliz Haizlip, the groundbreaking gay Black host of the PBS hit series Soul! from 1968 to its cancellation in 1973. He made history during his time there as the first Black producer at WNDT (now WNET, the primary PBS station in the New York City area). Find out how to watch Mr. SOUL! now at the film’s site, and check out the trailer below.
3) Trace Lysette and out bi actress Anna Paquin are attached to star in the upcoming feature drama, Monica. The film will follow a transgender woman (Lysette) who returns home to the Midwest to act as a caretaker for her dying mother (Patricia Clarkson), and how the fractured family unit copes with feelings of abandonment, ageing, reconciliation and acceptance. In other film news, Emmy nominated actress and trans advocate Rain Valdez and Rachel Leyco will star in the romcom they wrote together, Re-Live: A Tale of an American Island Cheerleader. The story centers on a high school in Guam, which hosts a “Do-Over Week” for its 10-year class reunion. Valdez plays Rowena, a trans actress who decides to return to her hometown and live her childhood dream of becoming a cheerleader. Her commitment is tested when her mother’s health declines, Leyco will star as Valdez’s sister.
4) Out actors and comedians Bowen Yang and Sherry Cola have joined the voice cast for The Tiger’s Apprentice, an upcoming animated adaptation of the best-selling children’s book of the same name for Paramount Animation. The film is currently set for release on February 10, 2023. In other film news: Ryan Murphy’s film adaptation of the Broadway musical The Prom will premiere on Netflix December 11, Amazon will premiere a filmed stage version of the Broadway play What The Constitution Means to Me on October 16, and indie distributor Bleecker Street has acquired the North American rights to period drama The World to Come starring Katherine Waterston and Vanessa Kirby as two women who form an intense love affair.
5) Pose creator Steven Canals is developing a new series for ABC, titled In the End, which he will write and executive produce. The show, which has received a script commitment, will follow Kiona Brown, who decides to embrace death by becoming an end-of-life doula. As she gets to know her eccentric lineup of patients, she finds that the secret to making a new beginning is to embrace the ending. Issa Rae’s production label ColorCreative has signed on to out writer, actor, and producer Brittani Nichols’ (A Black Lady Sketch Show) upcoming Quibi series, Toothbrush. The show follows Rae, a queer woman living on the east side of L.A. who is struggling to find boundaries with her ex-girlfriend as they work to navigate a new friendship and their own individual career and romantic hopes.
6) Out bi music artist Halsey is set to make her acting debut in the upcoming series The Player’s Table, which she will also produce. The series, based on a novel titled They Wish They Were Us, takes place at an exclusive prep school in Long Island as a current student works to uncover the truth of her best friend’s murder. Halsey will play Rachel Calloway, a member of the secret “players” society that ruled the school and who left behind her wealthy roots after graduation when her younger brother was convicted for the murder. She returns to town in an attempt to help clear his name. There is no network yet set for the series.
7) Lena Waithe’s Showtime series The Chi has been renewed for a fourth season, and HBO Max renewed LGBTQ-inclusive superhero series Doom Patrol for a third season. In TV casting news, NBC’s Saturday Night Live has cast Punkie Johnson for the upcoming season; she makes history as the first out Black lesbian to join the series’ ensemble cast. Out actor David Hyde Pierce will be replacing Tom Hollander in a pilot for HBO Max where he will play the husband of iconic chef Julia Child.
8) Out musician Janelle Monae has released a new video for the track “Turntables,” which is featured in the Amazon documentary All In: The Fight for the Democracy with Stacey Abrams. Check out the emotion picture below. Elton John announced this week that on November 13 he will release Elton: Jewel Box, a boxed set including 148 lesser-known songs from across his career and featuring 60 previously unreleased tracks.
9) Queer artist Bright Light Bright Light has released the new album Fun City today, and also recently dropped the video for his newest single “It’s Alright, It’s OK.” The video stars Honduran drag performer and activist Glow Job, and is the fourth single from the album. Check out the video below and find Fun City wherever you listen to music.
10) Queer musician J. Hoard has dropped a video for his new track “Where” today, and the video includes tributes to several LGBTQ icons. Watch it below. In other music news, out singer Demi Lovato partnered with Marshmello for the new song “OK Not to Be OK” which was released as part of efforts timed to Global Suicide Prevention Day. Check out the video here.
11) BOOM! Studios has announced that the monthly ongoing GLAAD Media Award-winning comic Lumberjanes will end this December after running for six years since its 2014 launch. The final issue, End of Summer #1, will be an oversized issue and sees the campers and counselors of the Camp for Hardcore Lady Types fight against the mysterious Grey force. BOOM! has said that this is “not the end of the ‘Janes and new adventures,” so fans may be able to hope for further stories in another medium.