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.) Horror-comedy spoof The Blackening is out in theaters now! The Blackening takes the trope that Black people die first in horror movies and turns it on its head. A group of Black teens head to a cabin in the woods (always a bad idea), and they are confronted by a masked killer who forces them through tasks to rank their Blackness in order to determine the order to kill them. Dewayne Perkins, an out gay comedian, actor, and writer, penned the script and features in it as Dewayne. Don’t miss The Blackening, in theaters now!
2.) The trailer for Kokomo City, a documentary on Black transgender sex workers, was released this week. In the trailer, we meet four Black trans sex workers who tell their stories: Daniella Carter, Liyah Mitchell, Dominique Silver, and Rasheeda “Koko Da Doll” Williams. The documentary not only discusses their sex work, but also the general sentiment when it comes to trans identity. Sadly, one of the featured women, Rasheeda Williams, was shot and killed in Atlanta earlier this year. Kokomo City releases July 28.
3.) The trailer for Netflix’s upcoming animated adventure film Nimona was released this week! Based on ND Stevenson’s comic series of the same name, the film 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.) The trailer for Shortcomings, Randall Park’s upcoming comedy film from Sony Pictures Classics, was released this week! The film follows Justin H. Min as Ben, a man who refuses to accept any of his flaws, as he attempts to navigate love and life. Out actress Sherry Cola plays Alice, Ben’s best friend and a queer graduate student and notorious serial dater. Don’t miss Shortcomings when it premieres on August 4!
5.) The first look images for the upcoming adaptation of Red White and Royal Blue were released this week, and we can’t wait for the intercontinental love story! The film, like the book of the same name, follows Alex, the son of the President of the United States, as he falls in love with Henry, the Prince of England. Their enemies-to-lovers tale is sure to captivate viewers, and if it’s anything like the book, it’s sure to be steamy as well. Don’t miss Red White and Royal Blue when it hits theaters on August 11! In other film news this week, trans actor Eliot Page was set to star in Close to You, a new film that follows Sam (Page) as he has an encounter with an old friend on the way to a family reunion.
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6.) The trailer for season two of the former HBO Max, now Starz show, Minx was released this week! The pornographic magazine crew is back and better than ever in the upcoming season, but can the contentious ending of season one be completely overcome in the name of profit and feminism? The show features a queer romance between Bambi, a cover model for a different porn magazine, and Shelly, the sister of Minx editor Joyce. Check out Minx, July 21 on Starz!
7.) The fifth season of What We Do In the Shadows dropped a trailer this week! The comedic take on vampires showcases the queerness of said vampires as well as familiar Guillermo (out actor Harvey Guillen). With Colin Robinson back as his adult self, Nadja attempting to burn down her nightclub, and Guillermo leaving the mansion to become a vampire without Nandor, season five is sure to be a good one. Check out What We Do In the Shadows season five on July 13 on FX!
8.) Trans actress and comedian Suzy Eddie Izzard has been added to the cast of Midas Man, the story of Beatles manager Brian Epstein. Izzard will play Allan Williams, a British music promoter who is most famously known as “the man who gave away the Beatles.” Out actor Lukas Gage is also attached to the project. Stay tuned for more updates on Midas Man!
Beatles Manager Movie ‘Midas Man’ Adds Suzy Eddie Izzard And Ed Speleers https://t.co/CRNiUURez9 pic.twitter.com/StX1Jff7vp
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) June 14, 2023
9.) This week, we got a first look at the upcoming FX limited series A Murder at the End of the World. The project, formerly known as Retreat, got a new name and released two first look photos of the series, starring non-binary actor Emma Corrin. The series follows a young amateur detective Darby (Corrin) who is invited to a retreat by a reclusive billionaire, and when someone is murdered, Darby must put all her skills to the test to track down the killer. The series will premiere in August exclusively on Hulu, so stay tuned!
Here’s a first look at FX’s new original limited series “Murder at the End of the World,” starring Emma Corrin, Clive Owen, Harris Dickinson and Brit Marling. pic.twitter.com/AyAMEHTPxH
— FX Networks (@FXNetworks) June 13, 2023
10.) Queer non-binary musician and actor Janelle Monae released their fourth studio album The Age of Pleasure last week. You may have heard the recently released single “Lipstick Lover” (or seen the video), which gave just a taste of what the project has to offer. Monae’s goal with the album was to focus on pleasure, rather than anxiety, depression, and struggle. Check out The Age of Pleasure now, on whatever streaming service you use!
11.) In other music news this week, queer musician and actor Renee Rapp released her new single “Snow Angel” as well as an accompanying music video, all while announcing her new album out August 18! Queer artist Donna Missal’s album Revel is out today, available on all platforms! Queer artist AMAARA released the single “Bright Lights” alonside a music video, and queer produces Marie Nyx and Maude Vox released a pair of remixes of their salute to queer nightlife “In The Club Out,” from Baby Weight and Leonce. Queer band Mermaid released their single “Boundaries” this week, and queer artist Savana Santos released the first single from their upcoming album, titled “Messy.” Queer artist Johnny Manuel’s new single and music video, titled “End of the Night” is out now, and finally, lesbian pop artist Keeana Kee has released the new music video “Numb“!
12.) A new podcast docuseries from Broadway Podcast Network, titled Finding Fire Island, will feature Joel Kim Booster, Margaret Cho, and Matt Rogers. The stars of the film Fire Island will discuss the “queer mecca” that inspired the film, and the general history of the island as well as their personal experiences. The series aims to break down all the lore and processes that made Fire Island what it is today. You can check out the trailer for the series below, and be sure to watch when it premieres on July 6!
13.) Protecting the world is no easy task, but anything is possible with self-confidence and the support of friends in Frogsong, a new action-adventure rpg. Chorus, a nonbinary tree frog, is defying all odds by becoming a warrior, though a rising army that threatens the peace of Salia is a bigger enemy than they ever imagined fighting. Frogsong‘s world is full of danger, but its charming art style and colorful array of LGBTQ characters are sure to draw you in with the promise that finding your place in the world isn’t a journey you have to take alone. Join Chorus on their unfroggetable adventure on Nintendo Switch, Itch.io, and Steam.