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) This weekend, the acclaimed French film BPM (Beats per Minute) opens in New York. The film, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes, revolves around the Paris division of activist group ACT UP. It tells an intimate and personal story of the activists who risked everything to be heard and fight for their lives. Beautifully directed by out filmmaker Robin Campillo, BPM is officially France’s submission for the Oscars, so hopefully this will become a film that is talked about and seen by wider audiences as award season ramps up. As of now, it opens into New York theaters Friday, San Francisco on October 27th, and Los Angeles on November 3rd. Check out this film in theaters if it comes to your city, and watch the trailer below!
2)The 2017 Gotham Award nominations were announced on Thursday. The LGBTQ-inclusive nominees include upcoming queer romance Call Me by Your Name for Best Feature and Best Screenplay; documentaries Whose Streets?, which features queer Black Lives Matter activists, and Strong Island directed by out trans filmmaker Yance Ford; inclusive television series Dear White People and Search Party; and short form web series 555 co-created by and starring out comedian John Early. The Gotham Awards will be held on November 27th, hosted by out writer, actor, and director John Cameron Mitchell.
3) A trailer has been released for Wolfe’s indie coming-of-age film Princess Cyd. The movie follows the titular Cyd, a sixteen year old who spends a summer with her Aunt, while also exploring a romance with an androgynous barista. The film will open in limited release on November 3rd for New York and Chicago, and on December 1st in Los Angeles. Watch the trailer for the film below, and check it out if when it comes to your city and when it is released on demand!
4) The trailer and premiere date was announced this week for Showtime’s upcoming The Chi. The show, created and executive produced by out Emmy award winner writer and actor Lena Waithe, explores the humanity behind the headlines in the South Side of Chicago with a coming-of-age tale involving an interconnected group of working-class people in the neighborhood. The show is also produced by Common and features him as part the ensemble cast which includes actors from Moonlight and Detroit. The Chi will premiere on Showtime on January 7th at 10pm. Watch the trailer below!
5) Comedy Central has ordered scripted comedy The Other Two, from out writer/director Chris Kelly, to series. The show, created by Kelly of Other People and former SNL co-head writer Sarah Schneider, follows two siblings who aren’t succeeding in achieving their dreams, while being overshadowed by their 12-year-old internet famous brother. It was also announced this week that the bisexual superhero Constantine is coming to DC’s Legends of Tomorrow in 2018. Constantine had a short-lived NBC show of the same name, where his bisexuality was unfortunately not explored. However, producers have said that his bisexuality will be part of his character in this iteration, portrayed by Matt Ryan. Additionally, Ryan will continue to voice the superhero in Constantine, an animated series coming to CW Seed in early 2018.
6) The Netflix original series GLOW announced a new character for their second season, Yolanda (aka Yo-Yo), a Mexican-American lesbian dancer to be portrayed by Shakira Barrara. GLOW is currently shooting season two. In other streaming news, Hulu has renewed their original series Casual for a fourth season, which will be the shows last. New trailers were also released this week, for the upcoming seasons of CMT’s Nashville and Lifetime's unREAL. The trailer for season three of unREAL shows the first woman suitor of the fake Everlasting, and will hopefully give us more of out producer Jay. The season premieres February 26th, and you can watch the trailer here! Nashville’s season six promo shows the classic Nashville drama including some appearances from gay country singer Will. Season six will begin this January, and you can check out the trailer below!
7) For the tenth anniversary of their iconic album The Con, out lesbian duo Tegan and Sara released The Con X: Covers, a tribute album featuring a variety of musicians from Cyndi Lauper to Grimes to Shamir doing covers of each track off the album. Proceeds from the record will go directly to The Tegan and Sara Foundation, which benefits LGBTQ girls and women. The Con X: Covers is available to stream and purchase on all platforms, and you can listen below to PVRIS covering “Are You Ten Years Ago.”
8) Out singer Hayley Kiyoko released her new single “Feelings” this week on MTV’s TRL with the music video, directed by and starring the pop star. This fun and upbeat single is the first one off of her upcoming debut solo album, and is available for streaming and purchase across all platforms. Kiyoko is also headlining the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles on November 4th! You can find more info on her website and watch the Feelings video below!
9) The holiday season is officially approaching, now that queer pop superstar Sia is releasing a Christmas album! It will be composed of all original music from the singer, and will be released on November 17th. The album Every Day is Christmas, is available for preorder on October 30th, and you can check the tracklist here! In other music news, out gay musician Rotsam announced an international the tour for his album Half-Light. You can check the tour dates here and listen to Half-Light now!
10) DC comics is releasing a new Snagglepuss miniseries, with a very distinctive twist. The pink cat of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon will be a closeted gay playwright in the new series Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles. The story will revolve around him being the newest sensation on Broadway in the 50s, but noticing all the social injustices around him. Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles hits shelves in January!
11) Forthcoming webseries The Invisible Bunch centers on a group of gay men who have a regular D&D session that turns into a discussion of their personal lives, dating, and their differences. The show wants to explore the often unseen world of gay gamers and role players as well as telling a sweet comedy story. Right now, The Invisible Bunch is raising funds to film the series, and you can find out more and how you can help by clicking here!
