Do you remember when Joaquin Phoenix dropped out of Todd Haynes’ planned gay romantic drama? And he did it just days before filming was due to begin? Well, the project is back on. Just not with Phoenix. Pedro Pascal has stepped in to save the day. The film, currently called “De Noche,” will now star Pascal and “Top Gun: Maverick” co-star Danny Ramirez as a detective and a school teacher falling in love in 1930s Los Angeles. Their unexpected romance becomes complicated when they find themselves targets in the midst of a moment of political corruption and terror, having to leave for Mexico to save their own lives. Written by Haynes and longtime creative collaborator Jon Raymond, it’s already feeling like Haynes’ “Carol,” a period drama with significant implications for this cultural and political moment. As for Pascal — who, with his somewhat ambiguous sexuality, has more queer cred than confirmed hetero Phoenix — we can’t think of a better choice to revive this film for one of America’s most important filmmakers.
Colman Domingo is stepping into Nat King Cole’s ‘Unforgettable’ life
You may recall the announcement that “Sing Sing” and “Rustin” star, the Academy Award-nominated Colman Domingo, was due to direct a film, “Scandalous,” about the clandestine romance that occurred between Sammy Davis Jr. and “Vertigo” star Kim Novak in the 1960s.
Well, Domingo’s still attached to that one. But meanwhile, he’s also now attached to star in, produce, co-write and possibly direct a movie about legendary singer Nat King Cole. The film is currently known as “Unforgettable” and will follow the iconic vocalist through his period of greatest fame, mid-century America during the time of the Civil Rights Movement, when he experienced both acclaim from white audiences and discrimination all at once. Right now, the project is being shopped around for international sales and seems to have more studio support, the way traditional biopics often do. Now the question is: Which film will be Domingo’s directorial debut? Wait to find out.
‘The Best Summer’ was the one with Bikini Kill, obviously.
Filmmaker Tamra Davis (“Billy Madison”) evacuated her home during the 2024 Los Angeles area wildfires and took a box of documentary footage with her. Inside that long-in-storage container were videotapes she made in 1995 at the Australian music festival Summersault, which became “The Best Summer,” a concert film/documentary that recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. It’s a time capsule and treasure trove, especially for ’90s queer kids who grew up on “Sassy” magazine, whose musical coming-of-age involved Riot Grrrl bands like Bikini Kill and whose rock divas were the Kims — Gordon and Deal — and their respective bands Sonic Youth and The Amps. Those three bands are front and center here, alongside indie superstars Pavement and Rancid, and A-listers like Beastie Boys and Beck. A big hit at the final Park City, Utah iteration of the festival, the exuberant doc, packed with backstage access, frankly has no choice but to find an arthouse/streaming home in the coming year. Dig out your best “My So-Called Life”-era outfit for the moment it finally hits a screen near you.
‘The Rocky Horror’ show has a cast and it’s a good one
Broadway loves a crowd-pleaser, so here comes one that’s extra queer. This spring’s limited run of a revival of “The Rocky Horror Show,” an enduring favorite if there ever was one, has a wow-factor of a cast lined up, including queer actors Luke Evans, Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All At Once”), Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (“Pose”) and “What We Do In The Shadows” star Harvey Guillén, alongside power players like “SNL” legend Rachel Dratch, Juliette Lewis, Josh Rivera (“West Side Story”) and Tony Award-nominated stage stars Andrew Durand and Amber Gray. Helmed by “Oh, Mary” director Sam Pinkleton, The Roundabout Theatre Company has the show set for Studio 54 previews beginning March 26, an official opening of April 22 and a closing date of June 21. Every few years there should just be one of these revivals so that new audiences get to feel the freak of it all. Anyway, you don’t have much time to Time Warp, so get those tickets now.
Romeo San Vicente knows all the words.
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