Universal Pictures is working on a film in which all the main characters will be played by actors belonging to the LGBT community.

Reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

The project is called Bros ("Friendship"), and its premiere is scheduled for August 12, 2022.

It is noted that this film will be the first romantic comedy about gays, which will be shot by one of the key Hollywood studios.

The tape is described as a soulful intellectual comedy in which the main characters have to plunge into a romantic relationship - however, both are too busy for this.

The story was developed by actor and screenwriter Billy Eikner, who played supporting roles in American Horror Story and Once Upon a Time in Vegas, as well as co-author of the films Home Video and Model Male 2, Nicholas Stoller.

They previously worked together on the TV series Friends from College.

In addition, Stoller will direct the project, and along with Joshua Church, Judd Apatow and Billy Eikner, will produce the tape.

The latter will also play one of the main roles, and his on-screen partner will be Luke McFarlane ("There", "Killjoys").

The creators of the project emphasize that LGBT actors will play not only gays, but also heroes of traditional sexual orientation.

“I am extremely happy and proud of the historical significance of the fact that the cast of“ Druzhbanov ”are open representatives of the LGBTQ community.

Previously, in front of homosexual actors, their heterosexual colleagues have been gaining points both artistically and professionally for decades playing LGBTQ characters, so the opportunity to collect all these wonderful and funny actors in one film is a real dream, which should have come true long ago. "- said Eikner.

Among the performers of the central roles are transgender, TV presenter T.S.

Madison, Ru Paul's Royal Race Winner Simone, actor and screenwriter Guy Branum, artist and hairdresser Miss Lawrence, and actor Guillermo Diaz (Ticket to Vegas, Double Kopets).

Eikner expressed the hope that the film will change the view of viewers and filmmakers about what roles LGBT artists can play.

“Although Friendship is probably the first of its kind in several ways, I hope there will be many more opportunities for open-minded LGBTQ people to show off their talent and show the world what we can do as actors, not limited to supporting roles of an eccentric queer.” for show "or" best gay friend "of the heterosexual protagonist.

In addition, our actors are funny as hell, and you will definitely love them, ”he added in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

Unequal opportunities

Information about the filming of the film "Friendship" appeared against the background of the fact that in recent years heterosexual actors, under pressure from the public, were forced to abandon LGBT characters.

So, in the summer of 2020, actress Halle Berry was criticized for going to play a transgender (a woman who became a man).

Moreover, talking about the upcoming work, the actress "incorrectly" chose the pronoun, calling the character "she".

After attacks in the media and social networks, Berry turned down the role (it is assumed that in favor of a certain transgender actor) and promised to help representatives of sexual minorities expand their presence both on the screen and on set.

  • Shot from the series "Batwoman"

  • © Shot from the series "Batwoman"

For the role of the main character of the series "Batwoman", which premiered in 2019, filmmakers were initially looking for an actress of non-traditional sexual orientation, since since 2006 this character has been presented in comics as homosexual.

The performer of the role in the first season of the project, Ruby Rose, defended her right to this work, referring to the coming out, which she made at the age of 12.

However, fans were unhappy that she was not Jewish like her character.

By the second season, Rose had left the project.

She was replaced by a black LGBT woman named Javisia Leslie.

She, however, did not get the role of Kate Kane, but another alter ego of the heroine - Ryan Wilder.

In recent years, the American film industry has paid special attention not only to gender, but also to the race of actors. For example, Apple TV + decided that Kristen Bell should not voice the mulatto Molly from the animated series Central Park. Actor Mike Henry left the Family Guy project, in which he gave voice to a black hero. The creators of "The Simpsons" have pledged to no longer involve white artists in voicing colored characters after audiences criticized Hank Azaria's work on the Indian Apu.

In the fall of 2020, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which is awarding the Academy Awards, announced new rules for films that are nominated for the Best Film Award.

Sufficient women, LGBT people, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities should be involved in production.