Photo Credit: Sundance Film Festival

Every week, the GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBTQ-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend!

1) The queer film Lizzie opens in theaters today. Starring Chloe Sevigny and out actress Kristen Stewart, Lizzie – which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year – takes a look at in the infamous Lizzie Borden story from a queer perspective. Sevigny stars as the titular Lizzie, with Stewart playing her maid and eventual lover, Bridget Sullivan. The film follows Lizzie’s struggle against her abusive father as well as the romance between the two women. Lizzie arrived in limited release at theaters today and will roll out to additional cities in the coming weeks.

2) Documentary Life in the Doghouse hit theaters on Wednesday. The film follows life and business partners Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta, who run a unique rescue shelter for dogs. Ever since 2005, during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Danny and Ron have been running the shelter from their house and taking care of injured and abused dogs until they are ready for adoption. For more information about the rescue shelter click here, and to buy tickets for Life in the Doghouse, click here.  

3) Mystery A Simple Favor, from Paul Feig, the director of Bridesmaids and Ghostbusters, opens widely in theaters today. The movie stars Anna Kendrick as a woman who searches for her missing friend, Emily (Blake Lively) as more and more questions arise. The search for Emily results in several discoveries including an ex-girlfriend of hers, played by Linda Cardellini. The cast also includes out actor Andrew Rannells and trans comedian Patti Harrison. A Simple Favor opens in theaters nationwide today, and tickets are available for purchase here.

4) YouTube announced this week that they will be launching the documentary State of Pride next year. Celebrating 50 years since the Stonewall Riots, the film will look at the significance of the last 50 years of Pride, through interviews conducted by host Raymond Braun. Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, whose other works include The Celluloid Closet and Common Thread: Stories of the Quilt, State of Pride promises to be an important look at LGBTQ history and Pride.

5) Netflix has announced that they will be releasing a film adaption of Dumplin’, a young adult novel written by out bisexual author Julie Murphy. The film will follow Willowdean, the plus-sized daughter of a beauty queen who signs up for a pageant in protest. She forms a community of those who feel outcast, which includes multiple queer characters. Dumplin’ will star Danielle Macdonald and Jennifer Aniston, as well as out actor Bex Taylor-Klaus, and Drag Race star Ginger Minj. Dolly Parton is writing original music for the film, including the recently released “Here I Am,” in collaboration with queer singer Sia. Listen to it below.

6) Netflix has also acquired the rights to High Flying Bird, a sports drama from Oscar-winning Moonlight writer Tarell Alvin McCraney. The film, which follows an agent who pitches a controversial business proposition to a rookie baseball client, will star Moonlight’s Andre Holland, out actor Zachary Quinto, Deadpool 2’s Zazie Beetz, and will be directed by Steven Soderbergh. In other film news, out actress and comedian Wanda Skyes has been cast in animated movie UglyDolls, and bisexual actress Bella Thorne is set to lead indie thriller Leave Not One Alive.

7) A trailer has been released for Disney Channel’s animated movie Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors, which follows the forming of a super team from some of Marvel’s most beloved characters. The line-up includes Latina lesbian superhero America Chavez, as well as Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, Quake, Patriot, and Inferno. Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors will premiere on Disney Channel on September 30, and we hope to see more of America in further film adaptations from Marvel.

8) A new trailer has been released for season four of Supergirl, and it’s the first trailer to feature Nia Nal, the first trans superhero on screen. Played by trans actress Nicole Maines, Nia can be glimpsed in the trailer, below, working alongside Cara. A trailer has also been released for season five of How to Get Away with Murder, showing bisexual lead Annalise teaching again, as well as a wedding between gay couple Connor and Oliver. Watch the trailer here. A new trailer for the second season of Ryan Murphy’s 9-1-1 is out, showing footage of lesbian character Hen working with fellow emergency responders when an earthquake hits LA. Watch the trailer here.

9) NBC has announced development on a new sitcom The Inn Crowd, which centers on a gay couple who open an inn in a small town. Produced by out actor and the 2018 recipient of GLAAD’s Stephen F. Kolzak Award, Jim Parsons, the show is based on a 1999 article of the same name. Also in development is the new drama Prodigal Son from out producer Greg Berlanti. The show follows the son of a serial killer, who works to help the NYPD solve crimes. In further TV news, out actor Zachary Quinto has been cast as the lead in the upcoming AMC horror series NOS4A2.

10) Queer singer Kelela has announced that she will be releasing a remix album of last year’s GLAAD Media Award-nominated album Take Me Apart. TAKE ME A_PART, THE REMIXES will be released on October 5. This week she released the first remix, “LMK_WHAT’S REALLY GOOD REMIX” which features bisexual rapper Princess Nokia and trans rapper Ms. Boogie. Listen to “LMK_WHAT’S REALLY GOOD REMIX” below, and catch the album on October 5.

11) Out actor and three-time Tony Award winner Nathan Lane is set to star in the Broadway play Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus opposite Andrea Martin. The play, written by queer playwright Taylor Mac, is set in the aftermath of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, where Lane and Martin play two servants cleaning up the bodies. It is set to open in the spring of 2019.

12) Independent film Solace is seeking post-production funding before it debuts at the Los Angeles Film Festival on September 23. The film tells the story of a teenage girl who is sent to live with her grandmother and the people she encounters across the country, including her troublemaking neighbor and her girlfriend (portrayed by out singer Syd of The Internet.) Click here to support this film written, directed, and produced by Tchaiko Omawale.