By Romeo San Vicente
Ezra Miller joins the cast of 'Madame Bovary'
It's been a decade or so since the last of the umpteen adaptations of "Madame Bovary," which means, clearly, that it was time for a fresh one. And come on, you know you can't get enough of this stuff, especially when the production values and creative care taken are as impeccable as period films have been delivering lately. This one's coming from French-born (and raised everywhere else) filmmaker Sophie Barthes ("Cold Souls") and stars Mia Wasikoswka (already an old hand at the corset thing from all that time she spent blowing you away in the excellent "Jane Eyre") and Paul Giamatti. The project also features new queer heartthrob Ezra Miller, the 20-year-old star of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and "We Need To Talk About Kevin." If you don't know him yet, you will; the young actor recently chose the pages of "Out" magazine to get all that annoying future speculation out of the way by announcing his sexual orientation before it turned into an elephant in the room, which is pretty much the new standard of How To Do It Right. Cut to the chase and get back to work!
'Hannibal' wants to eat your spare TV-viewing time
Remember that Munsters reboot called "Mockingbird Lane" from cool queer creator Bryan Fuller ("Pushing Daisies")? Well, it might not be happening now. Hollywood is weird that way. Why put something interesting on the air when another bland family sitcom will do just as well in the ratings and offend practically nobody? But don't cry for Fuller. He's got "Hannibal" and it's a done deal. The new show, detailing the serial gourmet cannibal's early years, stars hot Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale), Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne, "Kids in The Hall" alum Scott Thompson and Caroline Dhavernas (who starred on Fuller's earlier oddity "Wonderfalls"). The plan is for "Hannibal" to arrive on NBC's midseason schedule, eating up the time slot left by the fresh corpse of a something cancelled. Bring on the fava beans.
Sacha Baron Cohen is not 'The Lesbian'
It's not just "Law & Order" episodes; movie plots are ripped from the headlines, too. For example, remember the recent Internet buzz about Cecil Chao, the Hong Kong billionaire who offered $65 million to any man who could woo his perfectly happy and partnered adult lesbian daughter away from that partner and that happiness? Well "Borat" star Sacha Baron Cohen thinks it's got the makings of comedy. And he's right, of course; it does. Tentatively tiled "The Lesbian," the project will most likely star Cohen as the entitled Big Daddy and, in better news, not in a simultaneous dual role as the lesbian.
Obviously, satirizing the "good intentions" of a man who thinks money can buy anything will offend a small segment of the population for whom homosexuality is a character flaw to be eradicated, but who cares? Mr. Chao must have a screw loose if he thinks a monster dowry is going to derail his daughter's sexual orientation. And if Cohen's got all of his own screws locked down tightly, this comedy might perform better at the box office than "The Dictator." The negotiations begin here.
Anglophilia is the new black
You know who you are: the queer person addicted to everything that comes from that tiny country across the channel from France. Well, you're in luck, because a bumper crop of culture is coming your way sooner than you can say AbFab. Here's the rundown: Julian Fellowes has a "Downton Abbey" prequel in the works, a series that would detail the early years of the title-rich and cash-poor Earl of Grantham and his convenient romance with new-money-having American heiress Cora, one that bloomed into affectionate lifelong marriage (with occasional lapses in judgment re: outside sex). Meanwhile, the original queens of "What Not To Wear," charismatic presenters Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine, are re-teaming for "Trinny and Susanna: Inside Out." It's another style makeover show, obviously, but what else do you want from these two, cooking tips? And finally, perhaps best of all, Stephen Fry, who should be considered a gay cultural treasure no matter which side of the Atlantic you're on, is the subject of a documentary titled "Wagner & Me." Coming later this fall from director Patrick McGrady, it's the story of Fry – who is Jewish – and his life-long enthusiasm for composer Richard Wagner. That's right, the Wagner Hitler loved so much. How does that work? Well, you'll just have to watch it, won't you?
