It’s official! Openly gay soccer sensation Robbie Rogers is getting the TV treatment.
Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have acquired the rights to the 27-year-old’s story which they plan to turn into a sitcom. (That should be… interesting.) The show will be about Rogers’ rise to the professional leagues, his quick retirement, coming out, and going on to become the first out professional athlete in an American league sport.
“Very excited and fortunate to be working with so many great people on this project!” Rogers tweeted yesterday.
Of course, now the burning question is: Who’s going to play Robbie?
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Scroll down to see our top picks.
Of course Zac Efron is our #1 choice because — well — duh!
Josh Hutcherson
The Hunger Games hottie would make an excellent Robbie Rogers. The two have similar facial features and, according to suggestive comments made by Hutcherson last year, they just might bat, er, kick for the same team.
Max Thieriot
The 25-year-old Bates Motel bad boy has been on the up and up for some time. A leading role as Robbie Rogers could be just what Max Thieriot needs to propel himself into TV super stardom.
Taylor Lautner
Okay, okay. So Taylor Lautner may not be the best choice to play Robbie Rogers. But we’re including him on our list because we’d just like an excuse to watch him take his shirt off every week.
Alex Pettyfer
English actor Alex Pettyfer has appeared in such blockbusters as 2011’s I Am Number Four and 2012’s Magic Mike. He’s also been nominated for MTV Movie Awards, Teen Choice Awards, and a SAG Award, among others. So he’s clearly got the chops (not to mention the looks!) to play Rogers.
Dylan Sprouse
Former child star Dylan Sprouse proved he’s all grown up when nude photos of him leaked online last year. This would be a great opportunity for the Disney brat to sink his teeth into a meatier, more adult role.
Robbie Rogers
Perhaps the best person to play Robbie Rogers would be Robbie himself. He may not be a professionally trained actor, but that’s beside the point. What he lacks in acting abilities he more than makes up for with his charm and devilish good looks.
Of course, the next question is: Who will be his love interest?
gjg64
You’ve got to be kidding me. A sitcom about him? Can’t he just do his job and be a good player for a few years, THEN go all Hollywood?
Cam
Heck, give it to an unknown gay actor.
bigrawtop
I will be disappointed if they give to someone straight. Kinda of going against the taking pride in being out ideal of Rogers. Hollywood always want straight guys to play the gay roles -because we are “too queeny” and are not popular enough with straight audiences.
There is a bias in Hollywood and it’s against gays.
robirob
When your boyfriend is Greg Berlanti (Brothers and Sisters, Arrows) the TV world is your oyster.
mcflyer54
Why should it be a gay actor? It’s not necessary to hire a killer, a drug addict, a cancer survivor, a doctor, etc. to play any of those parts. It’s called acting for a reason and, as a former performer myself, I’d rather take on a role that is more of a challenge. I’m not saying it can’t be a gay actor just that being gay should not be part of the casting criteria. Out gay actors are finally getting opportunities to play lots of (non gay) roles and being cast primarily because you’re gay doesn’t really help your resume (or your career). Ask any gay professional actor, if given a choice between playing an equally challenging gay or straight role, which one would you choose. My experience has been the majority would pick the straight role.
Billy Budd
I vote for Alex Pettyfer. I hope that the movie won’t focus on self denial, prejudice and inner conflicts. I hope it will focus on a happy gay sex life and that it will have many sex scenes.
Lefty
I also think gay roles should be played by gay actors.
Because in no way does it then follow that straight roles should go to straight actors and not only will gay actors’ options become extremely limited but we also go from casting actors to casting merely types. Talent and imagination are over-rated, after all…
Dixie Rect
I see Queerty hasn’t changed. Still forcing this one down our throats. Guess they gave up on Lance Bass, or the check bounced.
NateB79
I’m surprised that Tom Daley wasn’t one of the options.
mz.sam
Dream on!…its always fun to toss names around. But knowing Arrow’s creator, Greg it will most likely be a cute actor totally under the Hollywood radar…perhaps Canadian.
Dxley
Dixie, you’ve been quite scarce!
lykeitiz
@robirob: If that’s true, then that would explain it, because this one made NO sense!
JDJase
@Dxley: Well, of course articles about Robbie Rogers have been scarce lately too. I think this is direct proof that Dixie scours the internet every day just waiting for a Robbie Rogers article to be posted. Quite creepy.
Dixie Rect
@Dxley: I’ve just been bored with this site, same stories over and over. And the endless ridiculous assumptions other commenters make, see above.
I haven’t been here in months, and the lead story is this guy, yet again.