Grey’s Anatomy actor Jake Borelli will star alongside Karamo Brown in gay Valentine’s Day rom-com
Grey’s Anatomy actor Jake Borelli is set to play the lead in an upcoming gay romantic comedy called The Thing About Harry, which will also star Queer Eye culture expert Karamo Brown.
The gay actor will star opposite newcomer Niko Terho in the film which tells the story of a road trip with a Valentine’s Day theme, Deadline reports.
Borelli plays lead character Sam, a young, handsome, funny and intelligent gay man who was badly bullied after he came out as gay in his small Missouri town. Tehro plays love interest Harry, who enjoys hooking up with guys but secretly yearns for stability.
After details of the film emerged, Borelli shared a video of himself and Terho in which he declared: “Guys we’re doing a rom-com!”
Queer Eye star Karamo Brown will also star in the rom-com as an ‘overbearing and pretentious’ gay man.
Meanwhile, Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown will star in The Thing About Harry as an “overbearing and pretentious” gay man called Paul. He is joined by Glow’s Britt Baron, who plays Sam’s best friend, and Peter Paige, an executive producer on the film who also plays Sam’s roommate. The film is currently slated for a February premiere.
In a joint statement to Deadline, producers Paige, Greg Gugliotta and F.J. Denny said they have been honoured to make television with LGBT+ lead characters.
We’ve always wanted to make a movie – an unabashedly romantic comedy – that queer boys wouldn’t have to translate.
“True equality can only be achieved when you see yourself reflected in the movies, music and stories that paint our culture,” they said.
✨#TheThingAboutHarry is gonna bring all the feels. 🌈😉👬 @FreeformTV @ThePeterPaige #NikoTerho pic.twitter.com/nIyz7Htisk
— Jake Borelli (@JakeBorelli) November 13, 2019
“As young gay men in the 90s, whenever a rom-com opened, we would watch the leading lady fall in love and imagine what it would be like if the boy was saying all those things to another boy. We’ve always wanted to make a movie – an unabashedly romantic comedy – that queer boys wouldn’t have to translate.”
Jake Borelli came out as gay last year.
Borelli came out as gay just last year after his Grey’s Anatomy character shared a kiss with male surgeon Nico Kim.
Writing on Instagram, Borelli said the episode was “so special” to him.
“This is exactly the kind of story I craved as a young gay kid growing up in Ohio, and it blows my mind that I’m able to bring life to Dr Levi Schmitt as he begins to grapple with his own sexuality this season on Grey’s Anatomy.
“His vulnerability and courage inspire me every day, and I hope he can do the same for you. To all of you who feel like little Levis out there, know that I do too, that you are seen, and that we’re all in this together.”