Every week, The GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBT-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend.
1) Director Bradley Rust Gray’s horror/drama Jack and Diane from Magnolia Pictures is out now in theaters and available on demand. The film follows two teenage girls who meet in New York City and strike up a romantic relationship. Things hit a roadblock when the tough-skinned Jack discovers that Diane will soon be moving, and begins to push her away. Meanwhile, Diane’s struggles with her newfound feelings begin to manifest with werewolf-like effects. Check out showtimes for Jack and Diane here and watch the trailer below.
2) The Halloween episode of NBC’s breakout hit The New Normal from creator Ryan Murphy was preempted by hurricane coverage this week, but it’s currently available for download on iTunes. Murphy reached out to his Twitter followers with the link to the episode, which you can find here.
3) Currently in production, the upcoming film Such Good People follows a young gay couple that discovers millions in cash while housesitting, and an unexpected tragedy leads them to consider stealing it. Directed by Stewart Wade and written by David Michael Barrett, Such Good People features performances by Michael Urie (Partners), Randy Harrison (Queer as Folk), Sandra Bernhard, Lance Bass, Bree Turner (Grimm), and Alex Mapa. Having reached their initial goal, the filmmakers are looking to make production upgrades through their Kickstarter campaign here.
4) Following Matthew Vaughn’s exit, the upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past has found a new director. Out director Bryan Singer will helm the project, which serves as the sequel to X-Men: First Class. Singer directed the first two films in the franchise, X-Men and X2, and co-wrote and produced First Class, and is credited with bringing the LGBT-metaphors found in the X-Men comics very clearly to the screen. Look for Days of Future Past to reach theaters on July 18, 2014.
5) British television network ITV ordered a new sitcom starring out actors Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi as an elderly gay couple living in Covent Garden, London. Vicious Old Queens was originally intended as a one-off for Sky Arts’ Playhouse, but UK viewers can expect to see six episodes of the half-hour comedy starting in April 2013. Hopefully US viewers will get the chance as well.
6) Independent distribution company Milestone is working with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ Academy Film Archive in Los Angeles to restore the groundbreaking 1967 film, Portrait of Jason. From celebrated director Shirley Clarke, Jason is an uncompromising interview with a black, gay cabaret performer and hustler, and one of the first to address the subject of gay men of color. Due to its content, the film was mishandled and misplaced, and original film elements were lost for over 45 years. Now that original master has been discovered, Milestone is searching for help to restore the film back to its original theatrical vision. Check out the Kickstarter page here.