There's a new James Dean biopic on the radar, chronicling the all-too-brief life of the 1950s film star. And if you're thinking it will just be another showcase of how manly smoking cigarettes and riding motorcycles can be, you might want to think again.
The film is called Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean, the debut feature from burgeoning filmmaker Matthew Mishory and, unlike previous Dean biopics, such as the made-for-TV James Franco vehicle James Dean, this version doesn't skirt Dean's long-rumored bisexuality. In fact, at least judging from the trailer, the film embraces it.
James Preston, last seen in ABC's short-lived The Gates, stars in the role of Dean as he's followed in the period leading up to his breakout success, mostly set in California's Mojave desert. Alongside Preston in this sexy, mysterious setting is openly gay Queer as Folk hottie Robert Gant as well as The L Word's lovely Erin Daniels.
Even if the film comes to no solid conclusions about which team Dean played for, this is still a win for making any mention of the issue at all. The film has yet to find a distributor, though, so keep your fingers and toes crossed in hopes we'll be seeing it in theaters soon.
JOSHUA TREE, 1951 Full-Length Trailer from Iconoclastic Features on Vimeo.
