Bros already makes history in three different ways. It is the first major studio gay rom-com, the first studio film featuring an all-LGBTQ+ cast in both queer and straight roles, and its creator, Billy Eichner, is the first openly gay man to write and star in his own studio film. Nicholas Stoller, who directed the 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall and co-directed the 2016 animated film Storks and the Netflix comedy series Friends From College, directed and co-wrote this pioneering big-screen project. Produced by Judd Apatow, known for his work on the popular HBO series Girls, this movie is guaranteed to garner plenty of laughs.
Billy Eichner shared his excitement with The Hollywood Reporter:
"After queer actors have spent decades watching straight actors capitalize 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. And while Bros may be the first of its kind in several ways, my real hope is that it is only the first of many opportunities for openly LGBTQ+ ensembles to shine and show the world all we are capable of as actors, beyond just being the wacky sidekick, token queer or a straight movie star’s ‘gay best friend. Beyond all of that, this cast is (…) hysterical and you’re going to love them."
Now let’s see what else is there to know about Bros.
The Film's Plot
The brief official plot synopsis says the story follows two gay men with commitment problems who are "maybe, possibly, probably stumbling towards love. Maybe. They’re both very busy." Not much else has been revealed so far, but the protagonists seem fairly authentic. Hopefully, their on-screen chemistry will make up for keeping us in the dark for so long, as the film was first announced in 2019.
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The making of Bros goes even further back to 2017 when Eichner began writing the script with Stoller. He told Insider how he felt about being a trailblazer after he jokingly remarked on Twitter that it "only took 100 years" for a gay man to break ground in the film industry.
"I'm very flattered that it's me. I could never have imagined that. (…) It's very exciting, but at the same time, yes, it is bittersweet. It also is a little infuriating at the same time, because there's just no reason it should have taken that long. I mean, the first gay man to write and star in his own studio movie, how is that even possible? These studios have been in existence for a century, some of them, and yet it took this long. I think we need to acknowledge that it should not have taken this long, but also celebrate the fact that it's finally happening."
The Film's Cast
In the lead role, we’ll see the aforementioned Eichner, who voiced Timon in Disney’s 2019 The Lion King remake and appeared in NBC’s cult sitcom Parks and Recreation as Craig Middlebrooks in seasons seven and eight of American Horror Story, and the latest installment of American Crime Story, Impeachment. He rose to fame thanks to Funny Or Die’s reality game show "Billy On the Street." He asked random New York City passers-by tricky pop culture questions.
Eichner's romantic interest is portrayed by Luke Macfarlane. The actor is known for roles as D'avin Jaqobis in Syfy’s space adventure drama Killjoys, Scotty Wandell on ABC’s highly acclaimed family drama Brothers & Sisters, and serial killer Alan Fahey in CBS’ sci-fi crime series Person of Interest.
Other cast members will include Guillermo Díaz (Scandal), Amanda Bearse (Married With Children), Miss Lawrence (The United States vs. Billie Holiday), Harvey Fierstein (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance), Jim Rash (Community), Monica Raymund (Chicago Fire), Dot-Marie Jones (Glee), Benito Skinner (Queer As Folk reboot), Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live), Guy Branum (The Mindy Project), Symone (RuPaul’s Drag Race season 13), and more.
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Amanda Bearse made history on prime-time television when she publicly came out as a lesbian in 1993. "I’m delighted to be a part of this project. I had no idea how deeply the LGBTQ roots were going to be on this project [until recently]. But leave it to Billy Eichner; I should expect nothing less. He’s just so on the cutting edge, and this film will be too. I’m glad to be invited to the party,’ she told Deadline.
Release Date
The filming wrapped in November and Bros was initially set to premiere on August 12, 2022. The release date has recently been postponed to September 30, 2022, after the studio’s Mission: Impossible 7 was moved to summer 2023. No updates on the first official trailer just yet, so stay tuned!