Culture

Billy Eichner’s gay rom-com will have LGBT+ actors in every main role – including the straight ones

Billy Eichner on the red carpet

Billy Eichner is writing and starring in gay comedy film Ex-Husbands for Amazon Prime Video. (George Pimentel/Getty Images)

Billy Eichner has revealed that every major role in his gay romantic comedy Bros will be played by LGBT+ actors – including the straight characters.

The film was already set to make history as the first gay rom-com from a major Hollywood studio – but Eichner wasn’t prepared to stop there.

Sharing the news on Twitter, Billy Eichner wrote: “I could not possibly be more excited to tell you the ENTIRE main cast for my rom com Bros will be ALL openly LGBTQ+ actors!!”

He added: “This is a first for a major studio film. LET’S MAKE HISTORY!!!”

The hotly-anticipated film – which stars Luke McFarlane as Eichner’s love interest – will follow two gay men who are “maybe, possibly, probably, stumbling towards love,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The industry magazine revealed the full cast of Bros on Thursday (23 September) – and to say LGBT+ film-goers are excited would be an understatement.

RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Symone will star in Bros alongside trans actor TS Madison (Zola), gender non-conforming star Miss Lawrence (The United States vs Billie Holiday), Scandal actor Guillermo Diaz and Billy on the Street writer Guy Branum.

Billy Eichner hit out at straight actors for ‘capitalising’ on queer roles

In a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter, Billy Eichner said the cast was a “dream come true”.

“I could not be more proud or excited about the historic nature of the all openly LGBTQ+ cast of Bros,” Eichner said.

“After queer actors have spent decades watching straight actors capitalise 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 went on to explain that he hopes Bros will give LGBT+ stars the chance to shine and to show that they’re capable of being more than “the wacky sidekick, token queer or a straight move star’s ‘gay best friend.'”

He added: “And beyond all of that, this cast is f**king hysterical and you’re going to love them.”

Twitter erupted with joy at the news, with many praising Eichner for casting openly LGBT+ actors in straight roles in his upcoming film.

Billy Eichner’s film Bros is due for release on 12 August, 2022. It has been widely heralded as the first ever gay romantic comedy from a major film studio, with Universal Pictures putting up funding for the feature.

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