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Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor are starring in a gay movie—and the discourse has already begun
Once again, people are arguing over whether only gay actors should play gay roles.
Another gay Hollywood movie is being made and online discourse has already begun.
Filming for the upcoming gay period romance The History of Sound has officially started, and with it, comes the ongoing debate over whether or not straight actors should be playing gay roles.
The History of Sound, starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, was first announced back in 2021, when director Oliver Hermanus announced he would be adapting the short story of the same name. However, the project was delayed by his TV project, the upcoming gay royalty period drama Mary & George, starring Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine.
Then, back in May, Hermanus announced that he was ready to begin work on the film, and now, we have reports that it has officially begun production!
The History of Sound is described as “a universal love story” that follows two men, Lionel (Mescal) and David (O’Connor), who during WWI, set out to record the lives, voices, and music of their countrymen. “In this snatched, short-lived moment in their young lives, and while discovering the epic sweep of the USA, both men are deeply changed.”I love that queer stories are being told more frequently and these actors are great, not a knock on them, but jesus Christ, is Hollywood so averse to finding a single queer actor to play in a queer role? Y'all paid dust to Bros so they decided straight men for queer roles only.
— Unserious 🏳️🌈🇮🇳 (@IdkUnserious) February 28, 2024
Filming isn’t the only thing that has begun, however. The discourse came right along with it. Already, users on social media are asking why the movie isn’t starring out gay actors.
Mescal played a gay character in last year’s All of Us Strangers opposite Andrew Scott. O’Connor played a gay character in 2017’s God’s Own Country and is playing a tennis star entangled in a love triangle with his ex-best friend and his wife/coach in Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming film Challengers.
I love these actors to death and I will be seated but this will be their second gay roles each and for Paul back to back. And even though I know they'll kill it I just feel like they should give more gay people opportunities like this.
— BBK (@bernard_bbk) February 28, 2024
However, some queer movie lovers are taking to social media to express their frustration that there aren’t more gay movies starring gay actors. Last year, queer movies like Nimona, Bottoms, Dicks: The Musical, All of Us Strangers, Theater Camp, Nyad, Red, White & Royal Blue, Rustin, and Passages starred gay actors in gay roles.
tired of people demanding actors reveal their personal sexualities to “justify” the roles they land, especially when it means talking over the casting choices of gay directors
— E Rice (@Lamergier2) February 28, 2024
Others, however, argue that actors shouldn’t have to disclose their personal lives to play gay roles.
Why can't they find gay men who are actually gay for such role and leave straight men who just do it for the pay?
— RR 🇬🇭 kwame (@Asoegwu_) February 28, 2024
Which side of the argument are you on?
Paul Mescal with gay roles: pic.twitter.com/Ts2Y44Lwx3 https://t.co/gR7cogv9AW
— ri 🕷️ (@rielfication) February 28, 2024
What if they start casting gay actors for portraying gay characters? I am just saying.
— ELP1219 (@efren9619) February 28, 2024
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Mey Rude is a journalist and cultural critic who has been covering queer news for a decade. The transgender, Latina lesbian lives in Los Angeles with her fiancée.
Mey Rude is a journalist and cultural critic who has been covering queer news for a decade. The transgender, Latina lesbian lives in Los Angeles with her fiancée.
