Genre filmmaker and Fantasia alumna Alice Maio Mackay returned to the Fantasia International Film Festival with the Canadian premiere of her sixth feature, The Serpent’s Skin, per a press release. Produced by Dark Star Pictures, which will also distribute the film next year, The Serpent’s Skin follows Anna (played by Alexandra McVicker) after she escapes from her small, transphobic town, and the romantic relationship she develops with another young woman—goth tattoo artist Gen (Avalon Fast); after unwittingly unleashing a demon that begins feeding on their friends, the pair need to face their insecurities in order to defeat evil.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise—whose lead singer, Ela, recently came as transgender—released the summer anthem “Dang,” out via Atlantic Records, a press release noted. Along with the track, the band released a music video chronicling a couple’s epic adventure through Nashville in search of a secret rooftop concert. “Dang” comes in the middle of Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s Thanks for Coming Tour, which has seen the band headline amphitheaters across North America. A few of the upcoming stops will be in Lewiston, New York (July 29, at Artpark Amphitheater); Palmer, Alaska (Aug. 16, at the Alaska State Fair); Dillon, Colorado (Sept. 5-6, at the Dillon Amphitheater); and New Orleans (Oct. 14, at Fillmore New Orleans).
Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings is not the biggest fan of California Gov. Gavin Newsom—because of a trans-related stance, Out noted. Jennings recently spoke out on the social-media platform Bluesky, agreeing with trans journalist Parker Molloy that he will “never, ever” vote for Newsom due to the politician’s stances on issues surrounding transgender youth. Jennings posted, “Any candidate cynically ‘triangulating’ on trans kids is a non-starter, and now is the time to say so. There’s still so much time to advance candidates that DON’T suck.”
Sydney Sweeney revealed her bodily transformation with a first look at the upcoming boxing biopic Christy, according to Yahoo! The film tells the true story of Christy Martin—the groundbreaking LGBTQ+ boxer who rose to fame in the 1990s and survived a near-fatal attack by her husband in 2010. To prepare for the role, Sweeney underwent three and a half months of intense physical training, gaining more than 30 pounds. “I started eating. I weight-trained in the morning for an hour, kickboxed midday for about two hours, and then weight-trained again at night for an hour,” Sweeney told W Magazine, adding, “My body was completely different. I didn’t fit in any of my clothes. I’m usually a size 23 in jeans, and I was wearing a size 27. My boobs got bigger. And my butt got huge.”
Mariah Carey announced her new album, Here For It All, releasing on Sept. 26 via Gamma, Variety noted. The singer gave the first taste of the album with the release of “Type Dangerous” in early June; that song was co-written and co-produced with Anderson.Paak, who is rumored to be executive producer of the project. Carey has been teasing her sixteenth album for some time, telling Variety last year that she was actively working on it. Her last album was 2018’s Caution, released through Epic Records.
Amazon MGM Studios’ United Artists and Scott Stuber acquired the rights to the currently untitled reboot of the 1992 erotic thriller Basic Instinct, with the original film’s writer Joe Eszterhas returning to pen the script, per Variety. Directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone, the original film became a cultural phenomenon and box office hit, earning more than $350 million worldwide. The film follows detective Nick Curran (Douglas) investigating a brutal murder that leads him into a dangerous game of seduction with bisexual prime suspect Catherine Tramell (Stone), a manipulative crime novelist.
NBC reality-competition show Destination X competitors Ally Bross and Mack Fitzgerald have come out as a queer couple, per Out. Destination X, hosted by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, features contestants who are transported around Europe while blindfolded; they have to use clues to guess where they are, and the person whose guess is farthest from the correct answer is eliminated. After being on the series, Bross and Fitzgerald started hanging out simply because they lived eight minutes from each other in Austin, Texas—but Bross didn’t fully realize her feelings for Fitzgerald until the two went on a trip together for a YouTube series they started together called Where the F Are We?
Following rumors of a December release for the highly anticipated filmed version of Merrily We Roll Along, Sony Pictures Classics has confirmed a release date of Dec. 5, per Broadway World. The production stars Tony winners Daniel Radcliffe and out actor Jonathan Groff, alongside Tony nominee Lindsay Mendez, Krystal Joy Brown, Katie Rose Clarke and Reg Rogers. Merrily We Roll Along follows the turbulent, decades-spanning friendship of composer Franklin Shepard and his creative collaborators. The 2023 Broadway revival earned widespread acclaim and snagged four Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical.
Bisexual fashion designer Rick Owens has launched an OnlyFans account—for a good cause, according to Queerty. Proceeds from the account—devoted to his feet, which are tattooed with the words “so” and “c*nt” across them—will go toward The Allanah Foundation, a nonprofit started by Cuban-born U.S. trans pioneer Allanah Starr that offers scholarships, mentorship programs and resources for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. “I thought it was an interesting way of addressing aging,” Owens recently told WWD about starting the site, which charges $5/month. “It is a response to the prissy moralism and judgment that I see in the world.” Owens also has “Temple of Love,” a new retrospective at Paris’ Palais Galliera that opened directly after his SS26 runway show of the same name, per Pause.
John F. Kennedy’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg, called out gay producer Ryan Murphy on Instagram after Murphy mentioned him on the This Is Gavin Newsom podcast, per Page Six. During the appearance, Murphy said he was surprised Schlossberg had negative feelings about the upcoming series American Love Story (about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette) since he allegedly didn’t even “remember” his late uncle, JFK Jr. Schlossberg posted, ““You’re making millions off John, making a public spectacle of it but won’t contribute any of your riches to the causes he championed, or the legacy of public service he represented,” and shared his personal memories of JFK Jr.
The Jussie Smollett hoax hate-crime attack saga will be the subject of a new documentary, per Deadline. Netflix has ordered The Truth About Jussie Smollett?, a 90-minute film about the case—which, despite happening in 2019, was just wrapped up, legally speaking, a couple of months ago. Smollett will himself be interviewed. The project comes from All3Media-owned production company Raw, which is behind two of Netflix’s weirder true-crime films: The Tinder Swindler and Don’t F**k with Cats.
A video game based on Clive Barker’s Hellraiser franchise is in the works, per Variety. Titled Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival, the single-player, survival horror action game marks the first-ever video game based on the horror series from the openly gay British filmmaker. The game will launch across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam. “Working on the first true ‘Hellraiser’ game has been a venture deep into the recesses of my darkest imaginings,” Barker said.
Vanderpump Villa has been renewed for its third season on Hulu, noted Variety. Season two premiered with all 10 episodes on April 24 followed by a reunion special on May 8. The show follows Lisa Vanderpump’s staff at various luxury European estates, echoing the way Vanderpump Rules started with a focus on the staff at her Los Angeles businesses. The second season took place at a 12th-century castle in Italy called Castello Rosato, having moved from Château St. Joseph in Mazerolles-du-Razès in the south of France, where the first season was shot.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama will make a special appearance at the 23rd edition of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF) on Aug. 9, per Variety. Obama will take the stage with her brother/co-host Craig Robinson as they interview actress Teyana Taylor in a live taping of their hit podcast IMO With Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. Three years ago, Obama and her husband, former president Barack Obama, made a surprise appearance at the festival to support the Netflix documentary Descendant, which was produced by their Higher Ground company and served as that year’s opening night screening.
The San Quentin Film Festival—which, last year, became the first-ever film festival held inside of a prison—named the industry jury for its second annual event, including Vanessa Williams, Esai Morales, Jesse Williams, Celine Song and more, per Variety. This year’s jury also features two formerly incarcerated people: actor/writer Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin, who starred in 2024’s Sing Sing; and actor, author and poet Richard Cabral, best known for Mayans M.C. and American Crime.
Queer Emmy and Tony winner Sarah Paulson has signed with Entertainment 360 for representation, Deadline noted. Paulson won widespread acclaim and several top awards for her portrayal of Marcia Clark in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, and she earned her eighth Emmy nomination for playing Linda Tripp in Impeachment: American Crime Story, which she also executive-produced. Paulson also has a long-running collaboration with Ryan Murphy that includes 10 seasons of American Horror Story.
Tony-winning actress and Grammy-nominated singer Nicole Scherzinger took her final bow as Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd. on July 20, as the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical played its final performance at the St. James Theatre in New York City, per People. “Norma’s story is for anyone who’s ever felt alone. Lonely. Abandoned. Outcast. For anyone who never felt like they belonged. For those who once loved something deeply and had it taken from them, aching to reclaim it,” she posted on Instagram before the final show. “For the dreamers. The fighters. The believers. The warriors. For those unshakable in their purpose and power, doing what they love most.”
Abingdon Theatre Company announced that two-time Tony winner Christine Ebersole will be the company’s 33rd anniversary gala honoree, via a press release. Kicking off its 33rd season, “Stronger Still,” Abingdon will honor Ebersole on Monday, Oct. 27, at NYC’s Edison Ballroom. Among other accomplishments, Ebersole received virtually every off-Broadway award and her second Tony for Leading Actress in a Musical for her “dual role of a lifetime” as Edith Beale and Little Edie Beale in Grey Gardens.
For the first time ever, the iconic concert film Prince: Sign O’ the Times will be released exclusively in IMAX theaters globally for a limited time, beginning Aug. 29, according to a press release. The critically acclaimed 1987 film—directed by Prince and featuring Prince with his band of musicians including Sheila E.—has undergone IMAX’s proprietary Digital Media Remastering (DMR) process to offer an immersive experience. Early access showtimes will be offered in IMAX on Aug. 28 for all the Prince fans; tickets can be purchased at www.imax.com/prince.
Janet Jackson made a surprise appearance at the UK’s Heritage Live festivals in Reading when she stepped out onstage to support her brothers, who were performing as The Jacksons, AOL noted. Videos shared on her Instagram Stories and photos taken at the festival showed her watching from the wings with her rarely seen son. During their performance, Jackie and Marlon also brought Janet onstage for a quick guest appearance.
Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Adam Levine are reuniting as judges on the NBC reality-competition show The Voice for the first time since season 16 as the show’s 29th season (dubbed “Battle of Champions”) will launch in spring 2026, per Deadline. Michael Bublé, Snoop Dogg, former One Direction member Niall Horan and Reba McEntire have been set as coaches for season 28, which comes out in the fall. Both seasons are being shot at the same time. Clarkson will film The Voice and The Kelly Clarkson Show, which is heading into its seventh season, concurrently.
Anthony Geary’s husband of six years shared a glimpse into their life together in Amsterdam with their cat, Max, per Yahoo! “Greetings and happy weekend from me and my boys,” Claudio Gama, who married the General Hospital legend in 2019, posted on Instagram. Geary retired from the daytime soap in 2015, but not before winning a record-breaking eight Daytime Emmys for his portrayal of Luke Spencer.
According to Queerty, decorated NASCAR driver Ed Flemke Jr. and husband Christopher Barone-Flemke tied the knot in 2021 in Connecticut—but many are just finding out about the historic development. The affair was mentioned in the local LGBTQ+ publication CT Voice, which referenced the ceremony as part of a story about inclusive wedding venues in the eastern state. Barone-Flemke is a tasting-room manager at Priam Vineyards.
Non-binary Australian DJ G Flip has announced a world tour, per a press release. Titled The Dream Ride Tour, dates kick off in the States at The Van Buren in Phoenix on Sept. 9, continuing through major U.S. and Canadian markets including New York (Music Hall of Williamsburg), Philadelphia (Union Transfer), Toronto (History), Boston (Roadrunner), Chicago (Thalia Hall), Los Angeles (Fonda Theatre) and more before heading to the UK and Australia, wrapping up at Perth’s Fremantle Arts Center. G Flip will appear at Montreal Pride later this summer.
Heavy-metal icon and LGBTQ+-rights supporter Ozzy Osbourne recently died at age 76, The Advocate noted. His death took place just weeks after he took to the stage for a final performance with his band Black Sabbath in Birmingham, England, according to The Sun. At the height of the AIDS crisis, after his guitarist made homophobic remarks at a concert, Osbourne responded by donating money to AIDS Long Beach and other queer organizations, per The L.A. Times. And in 2010, Osbourne released a statement saying he was disgusted by the anti-LGBTQ+ Westboro Baptist Church using his music during one of the congregation’s protests.
Controversial rapper Tyler, The Creator released the new album Don’t Tap the Glass via Columbia Records, a press release noted. This newest album follows 2024’s Chromakopia, which was Tyler’s third consecutive album to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 charts, and it’s being released while he’s in the middle of his Chromakopia: The World Tour. Some of the songs on the new album include “Big Poe,” “Stop Playing With Me,” “Don’t Tap That Glass/Tweakin’” and “Ring Ring Ring.”
Queer ally Mehcad Brooks is leaving NBC’s Law & Order after three seasons as Detective Jalen Shaw ahead of the crime drama’s upcoming 25th season, Deadline confirmed. The rest of the main cast—including Tony Goldwyn and Reid Scott, whose contracts were up at the end of last season, Hugh Dancy, Odelya Halevi and Maura Tierney—are set to return. Brooks can be seen on season three of HBO Max’s And Just Like That. He will next reprise his role as Jax in New Line’s Mortal Kombat II.
In a recent interview with The Breakfast Club, model/actor Tyson Beckford showed no sympathy for Wendy Williams, who spread rumors that he was gay that followed him throughout his entire career, per Queerty. “I don’t know why she started that rumor on me, but you know what, karma hit your *ss,” Beckford told the hosts. “Good for you.” He added, “You just talk in people’s business, making up stuff. Why? To get clout? Radio? Aw, stop that.” Beckford has sat down with The Advocate to clarify that, while he is straight, he’s a steadfast LGBTQ+ ally.
Out gay former Bachelor Colton Underwood and former Bachelorette Kaitlin Bristow will host Are You My First?—a show airing on Hulu that focuses on virgins, per USA Today. The “dating experiment,” as Hulu calls the show, is bringing together “the largest, hottest group of virgins ever assembled [in the] search for intimacy, love—and maybe their first—in a tropical paradise designed just for them.” It’s slated to debut Aug. 18.