The long-awaited trailer for the even longer awaited new Netflix adaptation of The Boys in the Band has arrived. The first images of 1960s New York take us back to a very different time before the modern queer rights movement that began with the Stonewall Uprising.
As penned by playwright Mart Crowley, The Boys in the Band caused a sensation when it debuted off-Broadway in 1968. The play follows the interactions of a group of gay men over the course of a single, all-night birthday party. As the booze flows, tensions rise, and dark truths begin to overtake the partygoers.
Related: The all-gay cast of “The Boys in the Band” revival thinks there’s something you need to know
Alternatively praised for its humanizing portrayal of gay men and derided for its latent homophobia and self-loathing characters, the play has remained a polarizing work in the years since. Crowley eventually revised his text for a 2018 Broadway revival, which became the basis for this new, Ryan Murphy-produced version.
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Director Joe Mantello, who helmed the Broadway revival, assumes the same duties behind the camera here. He also reunites the all-gay cast of the stage version as well: Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Charlie Carver, Brian Hutchison, Michael Benjamin Washington, Robin de Jesús, and Tuc Watkins all reprise their stage roles. Mart Crowley also penned the screenplay just prior to his death at age 84.
The new Netflix version of The Boys in the Band lands September 30. Mark your calendars now.
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Mister P
There are some clever lines in the original, but I am not a fan.
PoetDaddy
Agree. I’ve hated it since it (and I) came out.
Joshooeerr
Yes, it’s one thing to accept the play’s place in history (even though it’s a third-rate piece of wall-to-wall self-loathing). It’s another to buy into the notion that Ryan Murphy has somehow rescued it from being a mere curiosity and imbued it with some new relevance. It’s still a third-rate play, not matter how many gorgeous stars you pack in or how frenetic the direction.
Cam
The difference between this and the original movie, is that the original was supposed to be a representation of what was current, and the characters were played by straight people, or closet cases, and the one fem character was played by a straight guy and done so over the top that it makes Eric Stonestreet’s character on Modern Family look realistic.
The current has a cast of all openly out actors, and is more of a period piece. But the fact that these characters are all played by people who have no shame, are out, are married, have kids, etc, really made a difference. I didn’t like the movie and thought it was depressing and insulting but really liked this version mostly because of the different cast.
So one person’s opinion.
Doctor Benway
Oh gosh, it looks like an old version of Queer Eye. Honestly everything from Ryan Murphy makes me want to puke.
ShiningSex
ALTHOUGH PARTIALLY TRUE, AT LEAST HE’S DOING SOMETHING.
POSE IS A GREAT SHOW. EVERYTHING ELSE IS MEH.
Cam
SO much better when no shows had any LGBTQ storylines. (Eye Roll)
Josh447
Man this looks so great. Can’t wait!
ShiningSex
LOVE THE ORIGINAL. HOPEFULLY THIS IS JUST AS GOOD, BUT NOT HOLDING MY BREATH.
Hillers
The original really plummets you into the depths of self-loathing and depression, and ends on the most cliched of notes. But I adore some of these stars, and I approved of the “Tales of the City” reboot, so will give it a watch.
PoetDaddy
Jeepers, is that Patty McCormack? I loved her when I was a kid.
Tad
It premiered originally in NY in 1968 and the first film was released in 1970. I remember seeing it in my teens later and it depressed me no end. Granted, it may be a snapshot of that era of gay life, but a sad one. Sort of like equating Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf with straight marriage.
Bubbleandsqueal
Why is ZQ styled to look like Leonard Frey?!
barryaksarben
This was a seminal moment (no pun intended) for Broadway and for movies actually. AN importnat play and movie and I look forward to the remake. All these negative comments make me want to puke. If you are old enough this was an accurate depiction of SOME gay men at the time. Not all gay men were out and proud and happy back then. I knew many like these. My friends and I were some of the few in my midwestern city who were out to all at work and home while most of the gay men in that city were only out at night or the weekend making their lives very hard. Ours were hard to but felt happier and I have never had regrets BUT I do remember and feel a need to defend those who were not brave enough for whatever reason be it a close family or religion that kept them between the two worlds. To deny history is just wrong. No Virginia Woolf was not all marriages but it was for sure some.
Liquid Silver
I look to Fawcett’s “The Burning Bed” for my inspiration on straight marriage and hand out cans of gasoline to all my straight female friends.
roblebald77
LMAO Liquid Silver!!!
Cam
@Liquid Silver
LOL!
RFD
This looks good in the trailer and the actors are some I really like. But I hated the original movie!
barryaksarben
IT was one of the first GAY plays to ever play on broadway and should be honored for that at the very least and as a young gay man I found it wonderful if depressing. Back then just being able to see us on stage was a gift. I didnt think I would be as miserable as they were but they were a generation before me and I was right
Mister P
Great! It sounds like there are no more bitter, vicious queens in the world.
j41005
It was the most depressing play I ever saw. I felt so beat up afterwards. Definitely not a fan.
skyboy63
I , for one, am looking forward to it. I enjoyed the original immensely.. From the comments I can see a lot of “ Michaels “ LMAO
Davey_W
I saw this cast in the Broadway revival and they were great. I think Robin de Jesús should have gotten the best featured actor Tony for his potrayal of Emory. He was over the top.
Kevan1
The new trailer seems to be exactly like the original movie. The only thing new are the actors.