Trans TV series Pose renewed for second season
MJ Rodriguez, Hailie Sahar, Dominique Jackson, Janet Mock, Angelica Ross, and Charlayne Woodard from Pose (Andrew Toth/Getty)
The landmark queer TV series Pose has been renewed for a second season.
Pose, which is currently airing on FX in the US, is set in 1980s New York, and portrays life in the city’s iconic queer ballroom culture – as most famously portrayed in the film Paris is Burning.
The show features the most transgender actors of any TV show in recent history, as well as a diverse behind-the-camera crew.
Its first season has won acclaim from critics and viewers alike for its rich portrayal of queerness and inclusion of trans people at every stage of the creative process.
A view of the crowd during the FX ‘Pose’ Ball in Harlem on June 2, 2018 in New York City. (Andrew Toth/Getty for FX Networks)
It was announced this week that the show would be returning for a second season – before the first has even finished airing.
FX CEO John Landgraf said: “Ryan Murphy has once again revolutionized television with Pose, an incredibly engaging story of creativity, courage, compassion, love and family at a pivotal time in our culture.
“As television critics have universally acknowledged, there is simply nothing like Pose on TV, so effortlessly excelling on every creative level and earning a place in television history for its infectiously inclusive spirit.
“We are honored to partner with our producers Ryan, Brad Falchuk, Steven Canals, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Steven Canals, Alexis Martin Woodall and Sherry Marsh, and the incredible cast and crew to continue this groundbreaking journey that is Pose.”
Ryan Jamaal Swain, Dominique Jackson, and Jeremy McClain attend the FX ‘Pose’ Ball in Harlem on June 2, 2018 in New York City. (Andrew Toth/Getty for FX Networks)
Creator Ryan Murphy tweeted: “The category is: SECOND SEASON. Congrats to the cast and crew of Pose who worked so hard to make history. And a special thank you to John Landgraf at FX and Dana Walden at Fox for believing in this special project and this community so much.”
Pose breakout star Indya Moore added: “So happy for all the QPOC who finally got a break and some recognition from #posefx on behalf of @MrRPMurphy. He knows how hard it is for us to be ‘seen’. He took us under his wing, so we could stay warm enough to grow and do the same for others. It was all intentional. #equality”
Trans activist Janet Mock – a writer, director, and producer on the show, added: “It’s all because of YOU. Thank you for watching, feeling, laughing and crying with us! We got so much more in store for season 2 of Pose.”
Mock recently became the first trans woman of colour to direct a TV show episode.
Murphy, who has a string of other behemoth TV shows on air – anthology shows American Horror Story, American Crime Story and Feud and procedural 9-1-1 – previously vowed to donate all the profit from Pose to LGBT causes.
He confirmed: “I am donating 100 percent of my profits from my new FX show Pose towards trans and LGBTQ charitable organizations. These groups do amazing work and need our support.”
One of the benefactors is The Sylvia Rivera Law Project, named in honour of transgender LGBT rights pioneer Sylvia Rivera.
Murphy added: “SRLP works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination or violence.”
Other groups to receive money from the show include the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, Equality New York and House Lives Matter.
Murphy recently signed a golden handcuffs deal that will see him develop new shows exclusively for Netflix.
Ryan Murphy (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Belvedere)
Murphy – whose existing shows air on Fox-owned networks – announced the new deal with Netflix in February, promising that his upcoming shows for the streaming giant will continue to “champion LGBTQ heroes and heroines.”
Murphy said: “The history of this moment is not lost on me.
“I am a gay kid from Indiana who moved to Hollywood in 1989 with $55 dollars in savings in my pocket, so the fact that my dreams have crystallised and come true in such a major way is emotional and overwhelming to me.
“I am awash in genuine appreciation for Ted Sarandos, Reed Hastings and Cindy Holland at Netflix for believing in me and the future of my company which will continue to champion women, minorities and LGBTQ heroes and heroines, and I am honoured and grateful to continue my partnership with my friends and peers at Fox on our existing shows.”
He has at least two upcoming Netflix shows in development, The Politician and Ratched.
Ryan Murphy (Andrew Toth/Getty Images for The New Yorker)
Speaking about Pose, Murphy said: “Along with being a dance musical and an affirming look at American life in the 1980s, I’m so proud that Pose and FX has made history right from the beginning by featuring the most trans series regular actors ever in an American television production.
“Additionally, the first season Pose will feature 50-plus LGBTQ characters — a record in American television history. I can’t wait for people to see this incredibly talented, passionate cast.”
FX boss John Landgraf said: “In the 15 years we’ve worked with Ryan, he has demonstrated time and again that every person’s story is joyful, illuminating, and must to be told.
Ryan Murphy (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty)
“With Pose, Ryan, and his producing partners Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Brad Falchuk and Steven Canals, introduce us to a new group of characters whose talent, life force, and self-made community is greater than the daunting obstacles created by a society that can be threatened by their native identities.”
Dana Walden and Gary Newman of Fox Television Group added: “A decade ago, Ryan brought us the groundbreaking pilot script for Glee, a show that celebrated underdogs, proudly showcased a completely diverse cast of unknown actors and led the way for new norms of inclusion and diversity on television
“In Pose, Ryan has again, with his gifted collaborators, placed a spotlight on people who have been marginalised in society, bringing together emotional stories and a hugely talented cast in an inspirational series.”
