Now that Netflix’s queer teen romance “Heartstopper” has ended, breakout star Kit Connor is leaping into new projects. First there was the Alex Garland film “Warfare,” and soon the “Elden Ring” film adaptation, but the big news of the moment is the new Marvel Studios “X-Men” film in the works from director Jake Schreier and writers Lee Sung Jin (“Beef”) and Joanna Calo (“The Bear”). In the long-awaited project, currently casting, Connor will step into the role of X-Men leader Scott Summers/Cyclops, joining Samara Weaving, who’s taking the role of Emma Frost. Connor will be the third actor to step into the role, taking over from Tye Sheridan and, earlier, James Marsden. (In the meantime, Marsden will reprise the character one more time in this December’s “Avengers: Doomsday.”) It’s all in the early stages, so stand by for more updates. And for “Heartstopper” stans who don’t know what any of this means, here’s a quick lesson: Cyclops is known as the leader of the Mutants, and he shoots energy beams from his eyes, only now those energy beams, like Connor, will be officially bisexual. We made up that last part.
“Heated Rivalry” gets new teammates
The second season casting process has begun for “Heated Rivalry,” creator Jacob Tierney’s spectacularly popular TV adaptation of Rachel Reid’s gay hockey romantasy “Game Changers” series of books. Of course, sudden heartthrobs Ilya (Connor Storrie) and Shane (Hudson Williams) are returning. As for new faces, queer actor Justice Smith (“I Saw the TV Glow”) and “One Night Only” co-star Charlie Gillespie are signed up to play Harris, a hockey team’s social media manager, and a bully of a player named Troy, respectively. Tierney has disclosed that Season 2 will continue Shane and Ilya’s story from the book, “The Long Game,” and will also introduce the new couple, as seen in the book “Role Model.” Devoted readers will, as before, be expected to deal with the free translation of the book series to the TV series. It’s expected to drop in spring 2027, and we’re still holding out hope for a cameo from loose cannon hockey weirdo Shoresy from Tierney’s earlier projects, “Shoresy” and “Letterkenny.” We can dream.
“Clueless” refuses to engage in a midlife crisis
If you’ve been following the on-again, off-again status of the TV series version of the 1995 teen classic film “Clueless,” rejoice, because it’s back on. It’s headed to Paramount+, which makes it a sort of homecoming, as Paramount Pictures produced the original film back in the ’90s. In it, Alicia Silverstone created the indelible, unflappable Cher Horowitz, the Beverly Hills high school student who brought joy to everyone she met. Silverstone will reprise her role in this limited series, and Cher will now be the parent to a high-school-aged daughter of her own. Beyond that, little is known besides a tentative shooting date of early 2027. The original film was a touchstone for queer millennial teens now in their 40s, and it’s a near certainty that this iteration will include that level of culturally progressive joie de vivre. More details to come as this project moves forward.
“Obsession” star Inde Navarrette takes a terrifying ride
“Obsession,” the wild Gen Z horror hit from earlier this year — whose main doomed hetero couple was portrayed by two young queer actors, Inde Navarrette and Michael Johnston — has hit streaming for your end-of-summer horror movie/sleepover party, and if you haven’t seen it then brace yourself for Navarrette’s singularly unhinged performance. Meanwhile, she’s already shooting her next film, “Invertigo,” and if you’re afraid of heights, then buckle up. It’s about a group of thrill-seeking teens who break into a theme park and ride the new roller coaster. Then it breaks down and they’re stuck up there, fighting for their lives, upside down. Directed by Matthias Hoene (“Little Bone Lodge”) and written by Kathy Charles (“Castle Freak”), Billy O’Brien (“I Am Not a Serial Killer”), and Don Roff (“Saint Clare”), this one could put a dent in theme-park attendance if it turns out to be another showcase for Navarrette’s thrilling ability to unsettle the audience. Look for this one in 2027.
Romeo San Vicente prefers the Tunnel of Love.