Billy Eichner Sets Historic LGBTQ Cast for Universal’s Comedy ‘Bros’
Written by Billy Eichner and Nicholas Stoller, it’s the first major studio film to feature an all LGBTQ principal cast playing heterosexual roles.
Billy Eichner’s Bros will be historical production in several ways.
Eichner is already the first openly gay man to co-write and star in his own major studio film, and now the Universal feature has made history by setting an all LGBTQ principal cast.
All of the principal heterosexual roles will be played by openly LGBTQ actors and actresses.
Bros, the first gay romantic comedy from a major studio, is described as a smart, swoony and heartfelt comedy about two gay men (Eichner, Luke Macfarlane) maybe, possibly, probably, stumbling toward love.
Eichner co-wrote the script alongside Nicholas Stoller, with whom he worked with on Netflix’s Friends from College. Stoller will direct and exec produce alongside Judd Apatow, Eichner and Josh Church (Trainwreck).
Joining Eichner and Macfarlane (Brothers & Sisters) in the cast are TS Madison (Zola), the transgender author of Light Through the Shade: An Autobiography of a Queen and host of The Queens Supreme Court; Miss Lawrence, a gender non-conforming entertainer whose credits include Empire offshoot Star and The United States vs. Billie Holiday; Symone, an L.A.-based drag queen who won season 13 of RuPaul’s Drag Race; Guillermo Diaz, a veteran actor with roles on Scandal, Weeds and Half Baked; and Guy Branum, the creator and host of TruTV’s The Game Show who previously worked as a writer with Eichner on Billy on the Street and working on Paramount’s How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days update.
“I could not be more proud or excited about the historic nature of the all openly LGBTQ+ cast of Bros. 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,” Eichner said.
“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.’ And beyond all of that, this cast is f*cking hysterical and you’re going to love them.”
Bros is scheduled for release August 12, 2022, by Universal Pictures.
