Luke MacFarlane to star opposite Billy Eichner in Hollywood’s first gay rom-com
Bros is written and produced by American Horror Story actor Eichner.
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Wiki and Leigh Keily
Luke MacFarlane has been cast as Billy Eichner’s love interest in Hollywood’s first gay romantic comedy, which Eichner is also writing and producing.
Bros, which will focus on two men with commitment issues attempting to start a relationship. It will be directed by Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) with comedy legend Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin) also producing.
Universal, the studios behind the film, has set the release for 22 August 2022.
“It’s not a two-way street”
MacFarlane, who is gay, is perhaps best known for his role as Scotty Wandell, one half of a gay couple in the TV series Brothers and Sisters.
Collider, who broke the news of MacFarlane’s casting, report that he has been up for the role for two years and was fought for by Eichner, who is also gay, over bigger name actors. Eichner has previously said in interviews that he was interested in gay actors for the role rather than straight actors.
Speaking to Deadline in 2020, Eichner said: “I was privy to casting discussions, and I would see when the casting lists were circulating, about which actors to call in for which role. There were so many straight actors on every list to play gay characters.
“And then, at the beginning before I raised my voice, for the straight characters in the movie, there were never gay actors on the lists for those roles. I saw it with my own eyes. It’s not a two-way street.”
He told the publication that it was important for gay actors to tell their own stories and lived experiences and bring that nuance to the screen.
“I think we need to stop undervaluing that, the feeling that if a gay person plays a gay person it’s not acting but if a straight person plays a gay person, we give them an Oscar,” Eichner added.
Luke MacFarlane came out publicly in 2008, saying at the time, “I don’t know what will happen professionally … that is the fear, but I guess I can’t really be concerned about what will happen because it’s my truth.”
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Congrats to Luke on the role! We can’t wait to see the film next year.
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