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 BAFTA-nominated British drama Blue Jean hits theaters today! In Georgia Oakley’s stunning directorial debut, it’s 1988 England and Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government is about to pass a law stigmatizing the LGBTQ community, forcing Jean (Rosy McEwen), a gym teacher, to live a double life. As pressure mounts from all sides, the arrival of a new student catalyzes a crisis that will challenge Jean to her core. Check out the trailer below and watch Blue Jean in theaters now.
2.) MGM has dropped the official red band trailer for out director Emma Seligman’s upcoming high school sex comedy Bottoms! The film stars Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri, two unpopular queer seniors who start a fight club to impress and hook up with cheerleaders— all in the name of self-defense. Among the star-studded cast is pansexual actress Havana Rose Liu, lesbian comedian Punkie Johnson, and more. Watch the trailer below and catch Bottoms in select theaters August 25 and additional cities September 1!
3.) Out Emmy-winning actress Sarah Paulson is set to star in I Am Sybil alongside Elle Fanning. The upcoming film explores the true story behind the case of Sybil, one of the first mainstream accounts of dissociative identity disorder, which brought identity and mental health to the forefront of public consciousness. This new take on the story of Sybil— the pseudonym given to a woman named Shirley Mason— draws inspiration from Debbie Nathan’s 2011 book and follows in the footsteps of two TV movie adaptations, both titled Sybil. Keep your eyes peeled for character details!
Elle Fanning and Sarah Paulson are set to lead Mirrah Foulkes next film “I Am Sybil.” The film follows the true story behind the best-selling book and cultural-sensation case of Sybil, one of the first mainstream cases of dissociative identity disorder. (Via @DEADLINE) pic.twitter.com/fpgdE4Il5l
— IndieWire (@IndieWire) June 5, 2023
4.) Out actors Lukas Gage and Harvey Guillén are joining the upcoming sci-fi thriller Companion. Though plot details are being kept under wraps, the self-contained thriller hails from the team behind last year’s horror hit Barbarian. Stay tuned for more information! In other Guillén news, the What We Do in the Shadows star is soaring into the Angry Birds multiverse in the Prime Video and Amazon Kids+ new animated series. Angry Birds Mystery Island promises to deliver fun, mystery, and adventure with irreverent humor and pop culture references. The show introduces three new Hatchling tweens, who are mistakenly catapulted onto an uncharted island without any adults around to help them get back home. Stay tuned for more updates!
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5.) The official trailer for season two of Apple TV+’s The Afterparty dropped this week! Each episode of the series explores a different character’s account of one fateful evening, all told through the lens of popular film genres and unique visuals to parallel the storyteller’s perspective. In this season, a groom is murdered and every wedding guest is a suspect, including a new character played by queer non-binary actor, poet, and activist Poppy Liu. Watch the trailer below and stream The Afterparty July 12!
6.) Netflix has unveiled the first trailer for their upcoming series Glamorous, set to premiere June 22! The soapy workplace drama tells the story of Marco Meja (out singer and actor Miss Benny), a gender non-conforming queer teen who lands his dream job working for legendary makeup mogul Madolyn Addison (Kim Cattrall). This is Marco’s chance to figure out what he wants in life, who he actually is, and what it really means for him to be queer. The cast features a bevy of LGBTQ stars, including Zane Philips as Chad, Michael Hsu Rosen as Ben, Ayesha Harris as Britt, and Graham Parkhurst as Parker, as well as guest stars Joel Kim Booster, Matt Rogers, and more! Check out the Glamorous official trailer below!
7.) Prime Video has unveiled the teaser trailer for the second season of The Summer I Turned Pretty, featuring the magnetic bisexual character Jeremiah! In this season, with Conrad and Jeremiah fighting over her heart and the return of Susannah’s cancer, Belly’s not sure summer will ever be the same. When an unexpected visitor threatens the future of Susannah’s beloved house, Belly has to rally the gang to come together— and decide once and for all where her heart lies. Find the teaser below and watch The Summer I Turned Pretty July 14!
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8.) Out actors Tituss Burgess and Paula Pell have been cast in The Slumber Party, a forthcoming Disney Original Movie from Imagine Kids+Family. Based on the YA novel by Jen Malone, the coming-of-age comedy examines the aftermath of a sleepover birthday party gone wrong! Burgess plays Mesmer, an eccentric actor who makes a living posing as different characters, and Pell plays Principal Peterson, an educator who takes her job much too seriously. Hold tight for The Slumber Party release date information!
EXCLUSIVE: Tituss Burgess and Paula Pell are set for roles in The Slumber Party, Disney Branded Television’s forthcoming Disney Original Movie from Imagine Kids+Family https://t.co/i4kUkCcFBR
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) June 7, 2023
9.) Queer South African singer-songwriter Kaien Cruz has unveiled “I Lay,” their upbeat summer afropop anthem; watch the official music video below. In more music news, queer alt-pop artist a kid named rufus has released their single “how sweet does this sound?” off their forthcoming debut LP whatever works, out July 14! Additionally, queer singer-songwriter Ira Wolf has shared her new single “Find Less” and non-binary singer-songwriter Elliot Lee has debuted their single “Easy To Be You,” alongside an official music video! Gay artist Jake Shears has dropped his brand new album Last Man Standing, featuring a collaboration with Kylie Minogue, and bisexual artist Reneé Rapp has released “Snow Angel,” the title track of her highly-anticipated debut album, out August 8! Finally, queer Nashville-based musician James Richardson has dropped his debut album Daydreams! and gay Boston-based singer-songwriter Andrew Smith has debuted a new album The Garden with a music video for the track “Gay Gay Gay Gay Gay!”
10.) Gay Fleabag actor Andrew Scott has been set to star in Vanya, a new adaptation of Anton Chekov’s masterpiece Uncle Vanya. In the play, Scott performs the four leading characters: Vanya; his late sister’s husband, Serbryakov, and his new wife Yelena; and Sonya, who is Serbryakov’s daughter from his first marriage. Vanya begins an out-of-town run at Richmond Theatre from August 28 to September 2, then transfers to the Duke of York’s Theatre for a limited run from September 15 to October 21!
Fleabag star Andrew Scott to bring one-man Uncle Vanya to West End https://t.co/WMN6Rjsp0X
— The Guardian (@guardian) June 7, 2023
11.) Fans of Failbetter Games’ Fallen London series are being treated to a new addition in the universe called Mask of the Rose. Part murder mystery and part queer dating sim, Mask of the Rose has players navigate complex relationships in 1862 gothic London, while also trying to unravel the machinations that lurk at every turn. Your character’s gender identity and sexual and romantic orientation are up to you to decide, with an option for aromantic and/or asexual characters if relationships with no strings attached or friendships are more your speed. This alternate-history adventure refuses to sacrifice inclusivity despite the time period it occupies, resulting in a diverse cast of characters, all with their own secrets and stories up their sleeve. Unravel the mystery of Mask of the Rose now on Nintendo Switch, GOG, and Steam. In more gaming news, out Grammy-nominated multi-platinum artist Halsey has teamed up with SUGA to release the official “Lillith (Diablo IV Anthem)” video in celebration of the long-awaited launch of Diablo IV! The game is available now, featuring cross-platform play and progression on Windows® PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation5, and PlayStation4.
12.) This week, Outfest announced the Opening and Closing Night gala film selections for the 41st edition of the Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival, taking place from July 13 to 23! The festival is set to open with the live-action adaptation of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, directed by Aitch Alberto, and close with Chasing Chasing Amy, directed by Sav Rodgers and produced by GLAAD’s Director of Transgender Representation Alex Schmider. These films mark the first time in Outfest history that both Opening and Closing nights spotlight films made by trans artists! In other film festival news, the winners of the 2023 Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival were revealed this weekend! The festival showcased 107 films from 30 countries, opening with Ira Sach’s critically-acclaimed drama Passages, and closing with Tom Gustafson’s summer romance Glitter & Doom. Top honors went to Juan Sebastián Torales’ Almamula, Lulu Wei’s Supporting Our Selves, Beth Warrian’s Adore, and Karimah Zakia Issa’s Scaring Women At Night; check out the full list of winners!
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