Billy Porter director’s debut will be a trans teen love story set in a high school
The Pose star's coming-of-age pic will be called What If?
Billy Porter is to direct his first movie: a trans love story set in a high school called What If?
The Pose star’s Orion Pictures project will be written by Alvaro García Lecuona, according to Deadline.
The movie will focus on a shy high schooler who, following encouragement from friends on Reddit, plucks up the courage to ask a trans girl at his school to go out with him.
“All types of stories from all types of people”
Porter told the publication: “I’m thrilled to be part of this new space in Hollywood for telling all types of stories from all types of people.
“I am grateful to be in a position to usher some of these stories into the mainstream and I am humbled that heavy hitters like [producer] Christine Vachon and [President of Orion Pictures] Alana Mayo have entrusted and empowered me in this insane time we all find ourselves in.”
The script will be inspired by a real-life 17-year-old who, in 2018, turned to the internet for help with his high school crush.
There is a 17yo boy on Reddit asking advice how to ask out a trans girl at school. It is absolutely heartwarming, and also he’s a really good writer? https://t.co/vPf2Ajnubn pic.twitter.com/CC3SnNssL7
— Eric Francisco (@EricFrancisco24) January 24, 2018
Mayo added: “We couldn’t be more excited to work with Billy Porter on his feature directing debut and are privileged that he, Alvaro, and the producing team behind this special film have entrusted us with their vision for this beautiful, contemporary love story.
“What If? is perfectly emblematic of the ambitions we have for the new Orion Pictures: to tell stories about the totality of the human experience.”
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