They’re everywhere now, the documentaries about this or that famous person, and we’re not complaining, but there are so many of them. We watch the queer essentials — Kylie Minogue — and we ignore the others. But we will 100% be seeing the upcoming Nathan Lane documentary from Matthew Miele (filmmaker behind very good docs about Bob Mackie, Paddy Chayefsky and Alan Pakula) because the legendary Lane was gay before gay was everywhere. From “The Birdcage” to coming out publicly in the late ’90s, the three-time Emmy and Tony winner (a fourth Tony nomination is pending as of this writing) and Emmy winner (not to mention seven-time Drama Desk winner, but we will) with 25 Broadway shows to his name, this man is one of the major components of the American Theater. The doc will feature new interviews with Lane as well as the other entertainment icons he’s worked with: playwrights Tony Kushner and George C. Wolfe, writer-director Mel Brooks, Jean Smart, Laurie Metcalf, Ann Roth and Matthew Broderick. The film has no title yet, but if Lane wins for the “Death of a Salesman” revival they’ll probably come up with one quickly.
Jonathan Bailey and Natalie Portman go for a ride
“Wicked” star and People’s Sexiest Man Alive Jonathan Bailey is putting on those little spandex bike shorts for his next film, “Pumping Black,” where he stars alongside Natalie Portman. The film is from Mimi Cave (2025’s “Holland” starring Nicole Kidman) who’ll direct from Haley Hope Bartels’ script, and it’s a thriller set in the world of competitive cycling. Bailey plans a man aging out of the sport who meets an ambitious and perhaps dangerously unscrupulous doctor (Portman) who is determined to get her client to the Tour de France by any means necessary. Psychological elements play into it, too, which makes it all sound a little like Portman’s own “Black Swan,” but on a bike. If it’s as deliciously unhinged as that film was, we’re pre-ordering our tickets asap.
Cara Delevingne’s Cannes was crazy
Queer actress-model Cara Delevingne came away from the Cannes Film Festival with more than one success to bring back home. She co-stars in upstart queer comedian Jordan Firstman’s debut feature, the Camera d’Or and Queer Palm-nominated “Club Kid,” which beat the odds at an otherwise critically unacclaimed fest. And at the Cannes market, another film she’s in is headed for U.S. distribution. This one is a horror film called “The Punishing,” from filmmaker Chris Sparling (“Buried”), and it co-stars “Star Wars” franchise vet John Boyega. Set in Iceland and rooted in Scandinavian folklore, a husband and wife discover that the land they’re on has miraculous healing powers. That’s good news for the terminally ill man. Of course, there’s also a catch, and you’ll have to see it to find out exactly what it is. It’s currently in post-production, which gives its U.S. distributor enough time to decide if they want to capitalize on the “Midsommar” vibes we’re getting from the description. Stay tuned.
A ‘Jawbreaker’ musical is finally happening
Sometimes it’s good to flop. It means you can become a cult classic and fans can learn all the dialogue. And that’s what happened to the 1999 teen comedy from queer filmmaker Darren Stein, “Jawbreaker,” which set itself up for ripe comparisons to the similarly murder-themed teen comedy “Heathers.” After taking a beating from critics and experiencing limited box office, the film found its audience via home media and cable TV, much like 1985’s “Clue.” For about 15 years, talks and preparation for a stage musical have bounced around and now a non-Broadway (not yet, anyway), Los Angeles-based workshop version is happening this fall. Stein wrote the book with original music from Jeff Thomson (“Pump Up the Volume”) and Jordan Mann (“Trails”). Best news of all: Rebecca Gayheart, who played a teenager in the original, will be on stage as the high school principal originally played by Carol Kane. Get those tickets because they’ll go fast; cult fandoms don’t mess around.
Romeo San Vicente is too good looking to be replaced by AI.