Billy Eichner’s ‘Bros’ will make history with first-ever fully LGBTQ cast
Eichner, the first openly gay man to co-write and star in his own major studio film, will make additional history.
The Universal Pictures feature will have an entirely LGBTQ cast. Even the characters who are straight.
In an exclusive with The Hollywood Reporter it was revealed that Bros will be the first gay romantic comedy from a major studio, and is co-written and starring Eichner, 43.
The film is described as a heartfelt comedy about two gay men (Eichner and Luke Macfarlane) who are falling in love…maybe. Because their schedules get in the way of their romance.
Eichner co-wrote the script with Nicholas Stoller, re-teaming after their collaboration on Netflix’s Friends From College. Stoller will also direct and exec produce alongside Judd Apatow, Eichner and Josh Church (Trainwreck).
So who all is this historic queer cast? According to THR they are: TS Madison (Zola), the transgender author of Light Through the Shade: An Autobiography of a Queen and host of The Queens Supreme Court; Miss Lawrence, a gender non-conforming entertainer whose credits include Empire offshoot Star and The United States vs. Billie Holiday; Symone, an L.A.-based drag queen who won season 13 of RuPaul’s Drag Race; Guillermo Diaz (Scandal, Weeds and Half Baked); and Guy Branum, the creator and host of TruTV’s Talk Show the Game Show, who previously wrote for Eichner’s Billy on the Street and is now working on Paramount’s How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days reboot.
“I could not be more proud or excited about the historic nature of the all openly LGBTQ+ cast of Bros. After queer actors have spent decades watching straight actors capitalize both artistically and professionally by playing LGBTQ+ characters, it is a long overdue dream come true to be able to assemble this remarkable, hilarious cast,” Eichner said.
“And while Bros may be the first of its kind in several ways, my real hope is that it is only the first of many opportunities for openly LGBTQ+ ensembles to shine and show the world all we are capable of as actors, beyond just being the wacky sidekick, token queer or a straight movie star’s ‘gay best friend.’ And beyond all of that, this cast is fucking hysterical and you’re going to love them.”
Bros. is scheduled for release in August 2022.
