We loved Ryan Murphy’s limited series “Feud” with Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange, and we wondered what might come next. And now there’s an answer: “Feud: Capote’s Women,” based on the bestselling non-fiction book by Laurence Leamer, “Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era.” It’ll tell the story of late gay author Truman Capote and the circle of Manhattan socialites he called his “swans.” Fixtures like Babe Paley, Slim Keith, C.Z. Guest and Lee Radziwill (dearest youngs, go look them up) were Capote’s constant companions. Until he wrote about them, that is. And then there were none. And who’s on board for this project? Tom Hollander (“Pride and Prejudice”) as Capote, which makes sense. But we all know Murphy loves his actresses, so he’s giving us, for starters, Chloë Sevigny, Naomi Watts, Diane Lane and Calista Flockhart. Acclaimed queer playwright Jon Robin Baitz is on the script and Gus Van Sant will direct. More casting news will come later and production is set to begin this autumn in New York for a 2023 air date. Now, who wants to jumpstart a project as gay as this? Anyone? We’ll wait.
Ariana DeBose chops it up in ‘House of Spoils’
In March 2020, “Blow the Man Down,” a black comedy/thriller from writers-directors Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy, quietly dropped on Amazon Prime as the world was preoccupied with a global pandemic. If you missed it then, it’s still streaming and it’s a smart and funny bit of wickedness. And once you see what these women can do you’ll have more reason to look forward to their next project, “House of Spoils,” a psychological thriller starring Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose, the queer actor who is currently, and justifiably, everywhere at once. DeBose plays a chef opening her first restaurant on a remote estate, where her challenges include the usual kitchen troubles… and a ghost on a mission of vengeance. It could happen. Look, it’s the one plot point “The Bear” forgot to toss into its stew, so if it hits our plates with a side of flying butcher knives and at least one haunted risotto, we’ll be checking it out.
‘The People’s Joker’ is coming to make fanboys confused
Vera Drew is a transgender comedy force who, until recently, has produced, directed and written behind the scenes with comedy’s weird wave, alongside stars like Eric Andre, Sacha Baron Cohen and Tim Heidecker. After building up a strong resume on shows like “Who is America?” and flatly insane cult projects like the surreal series “Beef House,” it’s time for Drew’s first feature-length film, “The People’s Joker,” premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival. Fully unauthorized by DC Comics, the film stars Drew as a failed clown dealing with gender identity, a Gotham City where comedy is illegal, a fascist caped crusader, and some parody versions of other villains you may recognize. Made during the first part of the pandemic and featuring a lo-fi aesthetic and cast members like Heidecker and Sarah Sherman from “Saturday Night Live,” this one looks like the perfect antidote to poisonous online comics fanboy culture. We can’t wait.
Zoe Tarakes and Shea Couleé will queer up ‘Ironheart’
Earlier this summer we told you that “Judas and the Black Messiah” co-star Dominique Thorne would be stepping into the title role of the new Marvel Cinematic Universe series for Disney+, “Ironheart.” Her character, Riri, is a teenage inventor genius who creates a power suit more iron than Iron Man’s. That’s when Tony Stark steps in to collaborate. Marvel was looking to add major queer characters to this series, as well, and now they’ve found two. Transmasculine actor Zoe Terakes — whose roles to date have included playing a trans inmate on the Australian prison drama, “Wentworth,” and a supporting role on the bonkers limited series, “Nine Perfect Strangers” — has stepped into an unspecified role here (details are never very forthcoming from the MCU; they hate spoilers even more than their fans). Meanwhile, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum Shea Couleé has also been cast, and that’s exciting because, unless we’re forgetting something, there has yet to be a drag presence in the MCU. And we want one. The series is in production and a premiere date will be announced whenever they decide we’re ready for that.
Romeo San Vicente understands that loving Thanos is wrong, yet he doesn’t want to be right.