Jake Gyllenhaal takes on gay role in Netflix thriller Velvet Buzzsaw
Zawe Ashton and Jake Gyllenhaal in a publicity shot for Velvet Buzzsaw (Claudette Barius/Netflix)
Brokeback Mountain star Jake Gyllenhaal is set to take on another gay role in Netflix horror film Velvet Buzzsaw.
The actor, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his role opposite Heath Ledger in 2005, will step into the role of gay art gallery owner, Morf Vandewalt, who acquires some paintings from a mysterious unknown artist.
Gyllenhaal’s character gets caught up in chaos as a supernatural force enacts revenge on those who have allowed their greed to get in the way of art.
Velvet Buzzsaw is set to debut at Sundance Film Festival in late January, before it it debuts worldwide on Netflix later this year.
Rene Russo and Jake Gyllenhaal in a publicity shot for Velvet Buzzsaw. (Claudette Barius/Netflix)
The film also stars John Malkovich, Rene Russo and former Hamilton star Daveed Diggs.
According to Queerty, Gyllenhaal “does have a sex scene” in the film.
Netflix is yet to confirm a release date for the film.
Jake Gyllenhaal paid tribute to late Brokeback Mountain co-star Heath Ledger
It will be Jake Gyllenhaal’s first major gay role since Brokeback Mountain, the Ang Lee-directed romantic drama that won critical acclaim in 2005. The film was nominated for eight Oscars and won three, including best director and best adapted screenplay.
The actor’s Brokeback Mountain love interest Heath Ledger died in 2008 after an accidental drug overdose aged just 28.
Jake Gyllenhaal previously opened up about the impact that Ledger’s death had on him.
“Personally, it affected me in ways I can’t necessarily put in words, or even would want to talk about publicly.”
— Jake Gyllenhaal
Asked about the tragedy, he told PEOPLE: “I don’t know if I can answer that in one answer.
“Personally, it affected me in ways I can’t necessarily put in words, or even would want to talk about publicly.
“In terms of professionally, I think I was at an age where mortality was not always that clear to me.”
“You live in this bubble of making films… there are real friends, and there is a real community, but also [as Macklemore sings on his new album] there’s that moment where ‘the curtain closes and nobody notices,'” Gyllenhaal said.
“I think that’s true, and I think that’s okay.
“At the time, I assumed everyone would notice – and they did with Heath dying — but I think it [gave me] the experience of ‘this is fleeting.'”
He added: “None of the attention or synthesised love that comes from the success of a film really matters at all.
“What matters is the relationships you make when you make a film, and the people you learn from when you’re preparing for a film.
“That changed a lot for me.”
