By Mr. Will Wong
Based on Thomas Mallon‘s 2007 novel of the same name, FELLOW TRAVELERS is an epic Hhistorical Romance limited series consisting of eight episodes. The love story spanning three decades, centers on Hawk (Matthew Bomer) and Tim (Jonathan Bailey) set against the backdrop in the height of McCarthyism where homosexuals and communists alike were hunted and persecuted for being “un-American”, resulting in many being wrongly accused and having their lives ruined. So already we have established that Hawk and Tim, both with careers in politics, must embark on their relationship in secrecy and the stakes are high.
The Series jumps eras, giving us a glimpse into the battles Hawk and Tim have endured as they navigate the intensity of their romance being uncovered, to an era of over-indulgence in the ’70s, ultimately to the onset of the AIDS epidemic. And while it is never in doubt that these two men love one another deeply, they are pulled in separate directions and ultimately they reunite once again, but over the course of the Series’ eight episodes, we unpack the complex emotions as these two loverd are pulled apart by circumstance and reunited by undying love.
If I could compare FELLOW TRAVELERS to anything, it parallels some of the emotions explored in the classic BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, but where it stands on its own is its deeper exploration of the eras and backdrops against which this romance is set. While it is a romance, it also is a Horror on ways, the resonanting fear of the truth being uncovered in clandestine love, and the mortifying consequences. Trickling down further, it also explores the consequences of avoiding consequences.
The Series is a perfect vehicle to showcase our brilliant two leads who fill the screen with a palpable chemistry. Bomer approaches Hawk with a sense of mystery, harbouring his flowing undercurrent of thoughts and emotions. Bailey allows Thomas‘ emotions to rise to the surface. It must also be said the love scenes are charged with immense eroticism, as we explore the dominant and passive dynamics between these two men in the bedroom, versus their dynamic when they are public-facing and forced to conceal their love.
Our leads are supported by a talented Supporting Cast including Broadway’s Jelani Alladin as Marcus and Noah J. Ricketts as Frankie, who also in tangent, are navigating a forbidden romance, but also having to confront racism also. Allison Williams always is a captivating presence as Lucy. We just wish she got a bit more to work with, a casualty of Hawk and Tim‘s romance, serving to help Hawk keep-up appearances and avoid suspicion as a single man in a time where him not having a wife was a red flag.
FELLOW TRAVELERS is a compelling ‘eras tour’ of its own that proves affecting and rewarding. It streams now on Paramount+, with new episodes arriving weekly.
SHOWTIME today released the official trailer for the highly anticipated limited series FELLOW TRAVELERS, the epic love story and political thriller led by Matt Bomer (The Normal Heart, The Boys in the Band) and Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton). Created for television by Oscar® nominee Ron Nyswaner (Philadelphia, HOMELAND), the eight-episode drama premieres Friday, October 27, 2023 in Canada and the U.S. and on October 28, 2023 in the U.K., Australia, Latin America, South Korea, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The miniseries was shot in Toronto in Summer 2022.
FELLOW TRAVELERS, also stars Jelani Alladin (The Walking Dead World Beyond), Allison Williams (Get Out, Girls) and Noah J. Ricketts (American Gods). Bomer and Nyswaner executive produce with Robbie Rogers (All American, My Policeman) and Dee Johnson. Daniel Minahan (Halston, American Crime Story: Versace) executive produces and also directs the first two epiodes. FELLOW TRAVELERS is co-produced by Fremantle and SHOWTIME.
Created by Nyswaner, FELLOW TRAVELERS is based on the novel by Thomas Mallon. Bomer plays charismatic Hawkins Fuller, who maintains a financially rewarding, behind-the-scenes career in politics. Hawkins avoids emotional entanglements – until he meets Tim Laughlin (Bailey), a young man who’s brimming with idealism and religious faith. They begin a romance just as Joseph McCarthy and Roy Cohn declare war on “subversives and sexual deviants,” initiating one of the darkest periods in 20th-century American history. Over the course of four decades, we follow our five main characters – Hawk, Tim, Marcus (Alladin), Lucy (Williams) and Frankie (Ricketts) – as they cross paths through the Vietnam War protests of the 1960s, the drug-fueled disco hedonism of the 1970s and the AIDS crisis of the 1980s while facing obstacles in the world and within themselves.
Hearthrob and acclaimed Thespian Jonathan Bailey was in town filming Showtime‘s “Fellow Travelers“. The Actor know well for his starring role in Shondaland‘s smash success BRIDGERTON as Lord Anthony Bridgerton, will be playing Tim Laughlin in this upcoming Historical Limited Series, based on Thomas Malton‘s 2007 Novel of the same name.
Fellow Travelers centers on a romance between Laughlin and Hawkins Fuller (Matt Bomer) that spans the Vietnam War to the AIDs crisis in the ’80s. Allison Williams (Girls, Get Out) also stars in the Series, which wraps this December in Toronto.
So amazing meeting Bailey quickly not too long ago, looking colourful, sporty-chic! Knowing he’s a fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race fan, I asked if he’d be tuning-into the All Stars Finale to which he said, “I’ve got a flight to catch tonight!”. He was so personable and full of smiles. Everything we hoped he’d be!
Bailey just wrapped last week on the Series and big things are ahead with Bridgerton Season 3 and Fellow Travelers both on the horizon.
See some Snaps:
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
This looks great! Presenting this first look at a new Adaptation of THE BOYS IN THE BAND, coming next month to Netflix!
Synopsis:
More than fifty years after Mart Crowley‘s play became an unexpected smash hit for putting gay men’s lives center stage with honesty and humor, THE BOYS IN THE BAND returns to the screen in a new adaptation that reunites acclaimed director Joe Mantello with the all-star cast of the Tony-winning, 2018 Broadway production. In 1968 New York City – when being gay was still considered to be best kept behind closed doors – a group of friends gather for a raucous birthday party hosted by Michael (Jim Parsons), a screenwriter who spends and drinks too much, in honor of the sharp-dressed and sharp-tongued Harold (Zachary Quinto). Other partygoers include Donald (Matt Bomer), Michael’s former flame, now mired in self-analysis; Larry (Andrew Rannells), a randy commercial artist living with Hank (Tuc Watkins), a school teacher who has just left his wife; Bernard (Michael Benjamin Washington), a librarian tiptoeing around fraught codes of friendship alongside Emory (Robin de Jesús), a decorator who never holds back; and a guileless hustler (Charlie Carver), hired to be Harold’s gift for the night. What begins as an evening of drinks and laughs gets upended when Alan (Brian Hutchison), Michael’s straight-laced college roommate, shows up unexpectedly and each man is challenged to confront long-buried truths that threaten the foundation of the group’s tight bond.
See the new stills:
See the Trailer:
THE BOYS IN THE BAND arrives on Netflix Friday, September 30, 2020.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
By Mr. Will Wong
We don’t recall a more explosive first Saturday at TIFF in recent memory! Several stars were out and about on Day Three of the Festival and your jaw will drop who we saw!
A STAR IS BORN – Lady Gaga
THE HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT – Alexander Skarsgård and Jesse Eisenberg
GLORIA BELL – John Turturro and Julianne Moore
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THE FRONT RUNNER – Hugh Jackman and Jason Reitman
HALLOWEEN – Jamie Lee Curtis
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🤞🖖#JamieLeeCurtis at #TIFF18 for #Halloween! #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival
LIFE ITSELF – Annette Bening, Olivia Cooke and Mandy Patinkin
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK – Stephan James, Kiki Layne and Barry Jenkins
PAPI CHULO – Matt Bomer
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#MattBomer at #TIFF18 for #PapiChulo. #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival
WILD ROSE – Jessie Buckley and Mary Steenburgen
THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER – Maggie Gyllenhaal
THE SISTERS BROTHERS – Riz Ahmed
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#RizAhmed at #TIFF18 for #TheSistersBrothers. #torontointernationalfilmfestival #TIFF
WIDOWS – Viola Davis and Daniel Kaluuya
INSTYLE MAGAZINE PARTY – traditionally the hottest party at the Festival!
THE HATE U GIVE – Amandla Stenberg
BEAUTIFUL BOY – Timothée Chalamet
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS – Kelly Marie Tran
(Photo credit: David Baldwin/Mr. Will Wong)
We absolutely loved MAGIC MIKE, hence we are even more pumped about MAGIC MIKE XXL for all the obvious reasons! Although Gregory Jacobs takes over direction from Steven Soderbergh here, this looks to be every bit as sultry and entertaining as the first. This new Poster for perhaps one of the most anticipated Sequels in quite some time, cleverly places the words “COMING” right in Channing Tatum‘s nether-regions. Calm down, now Ladies…
Official Synopsis:
Three years after Mike retired from stripping, he bumps into his former Kings of Tampa friends, who appear burned out from performing.
Ken (Matt Bomer), Big Dick Richie (Joe Manganiello) and Tito (Adam Rodriguez) collectively decide to throw in the towel and leave Myrtle Beach with a bang. While on the road to their final shows in Jacksonville and Savannah, the crew reunites with old friends, pick up a few new girls and a few new dance moves along the way.
Amber Heard, Andie MacDowell and Elizabeth Banks join the Cast.
See the Poster:
See the brand new Trailer. We’re getting major Flashdance vibes from the beginning of it!
Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release MAGIC MIKE XXL on Canada Day, Wednesday, July 1, 2015!(Photo credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)
It’s official! Chris Hemsworth is sexy! Not that many of you needed proof of that! People Magazine has unveiled their annual Sexiest Man Alive Honourees and there are a couple freshed-faced surprises. What do you think of their choices? Was Chris Pratt robbed? How about the other Hemsworth Brother? Where is the still- hot Matthew McConaughey? Discuss.
The THOR Star tells People, “I think you’ve bought me a couple of weeks of bragging rights around the house”, upon receiving the news.
Here are this year’s Honourees:
Chris Pratt
Chris Hemsworth
Jamie Dornan
Ki Hong Lee
Blake Shelton
Bradley Cooper
Matt Bomer
Michael Strahan
Eddie Redmayne
Scott Foley
Tim Tebow
See Hemsworth‘s Video Profile by People Magazine below:
It’s awesome seeing a bit more cultural diversity in this List I must say!
For more, click here.
(Photo/video credit: People)
Toronto rolled out the Pink Carpet for a v. special Guest tonight as the talented and equally beautiful Matt Bomer made his way in to promote HBO‘s next sure-fire Awards Season Vehicle, a Film Adaptation of TONY-winning Play, The Normal Heart.
If the thought-provoking Storyline set in the early ’80s amidst the onset of the AIDS Epidemic doesn’t move you, then maybe its Cast will. A brilliant Ensemble of Mark Ruffalo, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons, Jonathan Groff and Julia Roberts light-up the screen, telling a heartbreaking Tale about a Disease which some thirty-plus years a later is still at the forefront of debate despite several educational and medical advancements.
I had the pleasure of interviewing the piercingly blue-eyed Bomer – known best for his starring role in White Collar as Neal Caffrey and for a glimpse in Magic Mike – who plays Felix, opposite Ruffalo’s Ned Weeks. The latter is seen at the center of the Story as an Activist struggling to bring HIV/AIDS to the political forefront, while also facing crippling internal struggle within his group of Activists at once. Seen arriving tonight quietly also was Simon Halls, Bomer‘s Husband of three years.
Bomer tells me that he got much of his education about AIDS as a 14-year-old reading the original Play on which this Film is based. “It infuriated me growing-up in suburban Texas that nobody was doing anything about it”, he remembers. “I would’ve been honoured to tell this Story on on any medium. The fact that we’re doing it for HBO just compounds the experience.”.
On building a passionate chemistry with Co-Star Mark Ruffalo, he has some high praise for his on-screen Lover. “Mark is just a consummate Professional and an incredible Man. We knew we had an unlimited amount of time to spend together so we kinda tried to just stay in character”, he states. “Thanks to him – I couldn’t have done it without him. He brought so much into it every day that he inspired me to do better.”.
The 24th edition of one of the World’s top LGBT Film Festivals reached a high point this year with much attention shined on the Festival in its securing an exclusive Premiere billing for the Marquee Title, The Normal Heart. On its steady ascension from a grassroots Film Festival to its lucrative partnership with TIFF, Andrew Murphy and Scott Ferguson of Inside Out explain, “It was an evolution. It evolved as Queer Film evolved. We’re lucky to have passionate people involved who are willing to fight for Queer Film.”. Expect the partnership to flourish this Summer as Toronto celebrates World Pride with several Installations, Artist Talks and Screenings planned.
Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer, Author and Philanthropist Mark Tewksbury we learned has actively been involved as the Spokesperson CANFAR, which in its 27 active years has raised more than $15 million for AIDS/HIV research. This of course isn’t the first time the Organization has attached its name to a cinematic partnership. Last fall, they had organized a Charity Screening of Dallas Buyers Club, which would go on to win multiple Academy Awards. CANFAR‘s Chris Bunting stresses the importance of partnering with a high-profile Event such as this. “They think because people are living longer, the issue has gone away. This is an opportunity for a mass audience to see a very important Film and to re-engage in discussions”, states Bunting.
(Special thanks to Wongster Maria for helping Snap the above Pic!)
See Mr. Will‘s Chat with Bomer & Friends tonight:
The Normal Heart premieres on HBO this Sunday, May 25, 2014 at 9 PM EST.
Inside Out runs at TIFF Bell Lightbox from Thursday, May 22 – Sunday, June 1, 2014.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Now in its 24th year, the Inside Out Festival is set to take place in Toronto later this month. The Launch Party for the annual Fixture was held at The Burroughes Building tonight on Queen Street West, bringing together a Who’s-Who in the Toronto LGBT Community. Inside Out is expected to draw 35k people out to its Screenings, Panels, Installations, Artist Discussions and more and is known widely as one of the top five LGBT Film Festivals in the World. Over 200 Movies and Videos are expected to be screened this year.
Receiving much attention is Director Ira Sach‘s Love is Strange, which stars a stellar Cast including John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Marisa Tomei and more, centering around two Men who decide to tie the knot. Things go awry when one of them loses his job when their marriage is uncovered and soon they lose their home, forcing them to live separately. The Film has the distinction of being the Festival’s Centerpiece Gala.
Many will be thrilled that HBO‘s AIDS Drama A Normal Heart starring Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons, Mark Ruffalo, Alfred Molina and Julia Roberts. Bomer, known best for his work on Series White Collar, is confirmed to be in attendance to present the Film at the Festival.
The Way He Looks from Brazil, earns the spot of Opening Night Gala. The Award-winning Film from Director Daniel Ribeiro is about a blind Teen Boy struggling to break free from his protective Family and Friends.
Many eyes also will be on Yves Saint Laurent, the Biopic about the revered French Fashion Designer. The Film was just added to Inside Out‘s Lineup.
Documentary The Dog offers insight on John Wojtowicz, who attempted to rob a Brooklyn bank in order to fund his Male Lover’s Sex Change, is garnering a significant amount of buzz, as is Matthew Shepard is a Friend of Mine, exploring further the tragic death a Male Student attacked and tortured because he was gay.
Acclaimed Tom at the Farm by Auteur Filmmaker/Actor Xavier Dolan, a major presence at the Canadian Screen Awards earlier this year, also will be screened at the Inside Out Festival.
Inside Out runs between Thursday, May 22, 2014 through Sunday, June 1, 2014. Tickets are on sale Thursday, May 8, 2014.
More details here on how to get Tickets and the official Festival Schedule.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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