Every week, The GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBT-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend.
1) Opening this weekend is the French romance Blue is the Warmest Color, which follows a teenage girl over several years, including her passionate relationship with an older female college student. Blue made a big splash when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where a jury including Steven Spielberg awarded it the highly coveted Palm d'Or grand prize citing strong performances from its female leads and frankness in its approach to the subject matter. However some viewers and critics, including the author of the graphic novel on which the film is based, have argued that the film's sex scenes are needlessly exploitative and emblematic of the male gaze. American audiences will now have the chance to decide for themselves this weekend. You can watch the film's trailer below.
2) Though it's already received a (very appropriate) opening in Baltimore, Jeffrey's Schwarz's new documentary I Am Divine will open this weekend in New York, before expanding to more theaters. As the muse of John Waters' celebrated underground films, drag queen Divine left an indelible mark on pop culture through her outrageous persona and memorable performances. Watch the trailer below:
3) The life of singer songwriter Elton John will get the big screen treatment in an upcoming musical biopic called Rocketman, which is now set to star Tom Hardy as John. Rocketman will be directed by Michael Gracey from a script by Billy Elliot's Lee Hall, and will be distributed in the US by Focus Features. John's husband, David Furnish, is a producer on the film and directed the 1997 TV documentary Elton John: Tantrums and Tiaras.
4) Fans of the Andy Samberg comedy Brooklyn Nine Nine will be relieved to learn the show has now received a full season pickup from Fox. The well-reviewed comedy, which focuses on a squad of Brooklyn detectives, also stars Andre Braugher as the department's openly gay Captain.
5) Firefly alum and out actor Sean Maher was most recently on the big screen in Joss Whedon's adaptation of the Shakespeare play Much Ado About Nothing, but will soon be making his return to the small screen. Maher is slated to appear on the hit CW show Arrow as the DC Comics villain Shrapnel, who will threaten Starling City as serial bomber and makes his debut in the second season's 10th episode.
6) 1980s icon Boy George has returned with a brand new album, which the out performer has released in its entirety on YouTube. You can listen to all of This is What I Do before it goes on sale October 28 in the video below.
7) Filmmaker Kiwi Callahan's web documentary series Where I Don't Belong aims to challenge stereotypes by profiling rarely examined corners of society. Her latest episode introduced viewers to the Empire City Motorcycle Club - one the country's oldest gay men's motorcycle clubs – which you can see below.
8) Actors Manuel Villareal and Sona Sood are developing a new short film about a pair of friends struggling with how their sexuality affect sense of place in the world, and how they can help one another come to terms with themselves. Along with director Madeline Puzzo and DP Mark Chastain, the cowriters are raising their budget through Indiegogo. Check out their video for Found below:
