1) Amazon Prime Video has acquired two films, My Fake Boyfriend and 1Up, from BuzzFeed Studios and Lionsgate. My Fake Boyfriend will star out actor Keiynan Lonsdale as a man who creates a fake boyfriend on social media to keep his ex at bay. But things get complicated when a new love interest enters his world. The romantic comedy will debut on June 15. 1Up, starring out actresses and models Ruby Rose and Hari Nef, is about a girl who forms an all-women’s esports league due to sexism from her male counterparts. Watch the gaming comedy July 15.
Amazon Acquires ‘My Fake Boyfriend,’ ‘1Up’ From BuzzFeed Studios and Lionsgate (Exclusive) https://t.co/SGYtO5hDw1
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) May 5, 2022
2) Out Emmy Award-winning actress Sarah Paulson has been set to star in the film Clybourne Park. A spinoff of Lorraine Hansberry’s play, the feature adaptation will loosely follow events that took place in the suburbs of Chicago in 1959 and 2009, where a group of neighbors’ civil debate over property lines turned into an all-out war. In more casting news, out Hacks star Megan Stalter has been set to lead in the dark indie comedy Cora Bora, alongside out actress and comedian Jojo T. Gibbs. The film follows Cora (Stalter), a struggling musician in an open relationship, who goes back home to Portland to win back her girlfriend. Additionally, out actor and producer Ben Whishaw has been set to lead in the feature Limonov, The Ballad of Eddie. Inspired by Emmanuel Carrère’s best-selling novel’s best-selling novel, the film will follow the life of Eduard Limonov, a thug, an underground writer and a butler to a millionaire in Manhattan.
EXCLUSIVE: Megan Stalter, one of the breakout stars of HBO Max’s Emmy-winning series #Hacks, has found her first leading film role in the dark comedy ‘Cora Bora’ from director Hannah Pearl Utt https://t.co/0LktWxQco7
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) May 12, 2022
3) Spyglass Media and Paramount have announced an upcoming Scream sequel, set to premiere March 31, 2023. Scream 6 continues to follow the new generation of Woodboro High students, including Mindy, played by out Yellowjackets star Jasmin-Savoy Brown. The four survivors of the Ghostface killings will leave Woodsboro behind in search of a new beginning. In more movie news, Peacock has acquired the British drag documentary City of Queens, featuring out RuPaul’s Drag Race star Bimini Bon Boulash. The documentary follows the lives of eight London-based drag queens, revealing the people, families, and communities behind the glamorous acts. Watch City of Queens on June 1.
‘Scream 6’: Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding and Jenna Ortega to Return https://t.co/FKn6s5Khrs
— Variety (@Variety) May 10, 2022
4) Netflix has released the official trailer for its upcoming female-led vampire series First Kill. The show follows teenage vampire Juliette who aims to make her first kill the new girl Calliope. Julliette’s plan is ruined when she discovers that Calliope is a vampire hunter, and the two end up falling for each other. Watch the series June 10 and check out the trailer below! In more Netflix news, the streamer has announced the premiere date of The Upshaws season two, co-created by and starring out comedian Wanda Sykes. The comedy follows a working class Black family in Indiana, including first-born gay son Bernard Jr. and sister-in-law Lucretia (Sykes). Watch The Upshaws season two on June 29.
6) The third season of Never Have I Ever has been set to return on August 12; check out first look photos here! The coming-of-age comedy features lesbian character Fabiola, played by out actress Lee Rodriguez, and her girlfriend Eve, played by Christina Kartchner. Catch up on the first two seasons, currently available on Netflix! In other TV news, E! has announced a new program If We’re Being Honest with Laverne Cox. The celebrity-based interview specials will spotlight trendsetters, tastemakers and those making an impact in Hollywood. Additionally, Cox will replace Guiliana Rancic as the next host of the E! Network’s signature red carpet coverage beginning next year with the 2022 award season. Apple has added out actor Brandon Flynn to the ensemble cast of its upcoming true-crime series Manhunt. Based on James Swanson’s bestselling book Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer, the series will focus on the aftermath of the Lincoln assassination and feature Black historical figures whose lives intertwined with the investigation. Flynn will play Eddie Stanton Jr., a war department clerk and the son of Edwin Stanton.
Laverne Cox Named Red Carpet Host of ‘Live From E!’ https://t.co/eDlEX0Okwn
— Variety (@Variety) May 10, 2021
7) The LGBTQ sister duo REYNA has released their debut EP you could at least say goodbye and music video to the single “orgulloso”. Stream the EP here and watch the music video below! In other music news, queer artist Jessica Boudreaux has released a music video to the lead single “Actor”, and has announced her new EP I Think My Heart Loves to Break, out June 24. Listen to “Actor” here and watch the music video here! Gay singer-songwriter and producer LonelyTwin has announced her self-produced debut album This End Had No Beginning, out July 7, and has released a lyric video to the single “You!”. Stream the song here and watch the video here! Additionally, out electro-pop singer-songwriter Layke has released her new single and music video for queer anthem “No On Can Stop Us” and has announced her forthcoming EP Frequency, out July 29! Lastly, queer alt-pop artist Yen Strange has released a new single “Easy Way Out” and an accompanying music video. Stream the single here.
8) Out RuPaul’s Drag Race star Jujubee has been set to host a new dating show podcast Queen of Hearts, out June 14 on Amazon Music and Wondery+ before launching on all other podcast platforms June 21. The ten-part-series challenges singles to connect only using their voices for a chance to win a real-life date!
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Jujubee To Host Dating Game Show Podcast For Wondery & Rococo Punch https://t.co/RgzYwEFeXt
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) May 12, 2022
9) The nominations for the 75th Tony Awards have been announced, with the musical A Strange Loop taking the lead at 11 nominations. Out playwright and composer Michael R. Jackson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning show centers a Black gay man named Usher, who is writing a musical about a Black gay man writing a musical. Actress L. Morgan Lee has made history with this nomination, as the first out transgender performer to be nominated for a Tony Award (Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical)! Tune in to the Tony Awards, hosted by out star Ariana DeBose, on June 12 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS or stream it on demand on Paramount+.
10) In other award show news, the MTV Movie and TV Awards have unveiled their scripted and unscripted nominations and there were several LGBTQ-inclusive standouts. Some queer programs and stars include: Scream (Best Movie), Euphoria and Loki (Best Show), Lady Gaga (Best Performance in a Movie– House of Gucci), Megan Stalter (Best Comedic Performance– Hacks and Best Breakthrough Social Star), Ariana DeBose (Best Breakthrough Performance– West Side Story), Hannah Einbinder (Best Breakthrough Performance– Hacks), Loki (Best Team), Euphoria, Never Have I Ever and Sex Lives of College Girls (Here for the Hookup), RuPaul’s Drag Race (Best Competition Series), Queer Eye (Best Lifestyle Show), Queen of the Universe (Best Unscripted Series), Willow Pill (Best Reality Star– RuPaul’s Drag Race), RuPaul (Best Host), Caleb Hearon, Benito Skinner and Megan Stalter (Best Breakthrough Social Star), Bosco vs. Lady Camden (Best Fight– RuPaul’s Drag Race), Kylie Sonique Love (Best Reality Return–RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars).
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@megstalterHead to https://t.co/srdtfvPGrL now to pick your favorite Breakthrough Social Star for the 2022 #MTVAwards: Unscripted! pic.twitter.com/iHFvQy3TM7
— Movie & TV Awards (@MTVAwards) May 12, 2022