With a third of queer characters vanishing from our screens, here are the top LGBTQ+ films to look forward to in ‘23

Queer representation is set to be cut to almost a third of its original figure, so here, HUNGER compiles a list of upcoming queer movies to keep the stories of the LGBTQ+ community on the silver screen.

With Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott set to play lovers in London, and Anne Hathaway taking on the roles of a famous pop singer and enchanting prison counsellor in two new star-studded movies – 2023 could be looking like an exciting year for queer representation. But it’s not all it seems in Hollywood, as the news hit that one third of LGBTQ+ characters are set to disappear from screens, as reported by GLAAD.

A landmark number of queer roles featured in films and on TV in 2019, with the likes of Pose, Heartstopper, It’s A Sin and Sex Education, and have only been expanding with seasons and characters added. They cultivated major fan bases and became some of the most watched shows when they aired, so it feels like a disappointment to see representation drop this coming year. Read on for HUNGER’s breakdown of the most-anticipated LGBTQ+ orientated films…

Strange Way Of Life

Director Pedro Almodóvar revealed his new queer western is the 30-minute “answer to Brokeback Mountain”. The internet’s latest crush Pedro Pascal will star alongside Ethan Hawke as gunslinger Silva and Sheriff Jake, respectively. The film will debut at Cannes Film Festival in May, with director Almodóvar stating on a podcast that it will be a “queer Western, in the sense that there are two men and they love each other.”

Little Richard: I Am Everything

On April 21st, an ode to American singer and icon Little Richard who exploded onto the scene in the ‘50s will reveal the Black queer origins of rock ‘n’ roll through archival and performance footage. The film is set to tear down the curtain of whitewashed American pop music, and explore why he was one of the most controversial heroes for kids at the time – who looked up to his honesty and transparency as an artist. Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, Tom Jones and Nile Rodgers will feature, talking about the revolutionary singer and his effect on culture. 

Bottoms

In a brazen high school comedy, two unpopular queer girls (played by Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri) in their senior year decide to start a fight club. It’s modelled loosely on the film Fight Club, as they bare knuckles and battle nihilism, but the two girls are also looking for a way to lose their virginity and sleep with cheerleaders they have had a crush on in this take on the classic cringey American teen coming-of-age comedy. 

Cassandro

In this Prime Video biography, we follow the life of Saúl Armendáriz, a gay amateur wrestler from El Paso that rose to international stardom with his character Cassandro. But this is no Nacho Libre, as he is described as the “Liberace of Lucha Libre”. Armendáriz will be played by Gael García Bernal, as he upends the macho wrestling world, challenging masculinity in the industry as well as his personal life. 

Eileen

Set during a Massachusetts winter in 1964, this star-studded story follows a young secretary at a men’s prison, Eileen (played by Last Night in Soho star Thomasin McKenzie), who becomes enchanted by her beautiful counsellor, Rebecca (played by Anne Hathaway). The movie will be based on the original award-winning 2015 novel Eileen by Otessa Moshfegh, who has said this is “not a love story”. 

Dope Queens

This indie romantic thriller follows three friends navigating San Francisco’s Tenderloin District, finding themselves in a prison of their own making. Featuring Alexandra Grey from Empire, Pierson Fodé from Dynasty and Trace Lysette from Hustlers, the three will head on a wild night out in an area regarded as the first transgender district, with supporting cast including RuPal’s Drag Race stars Kylie Sonique Love and Krystal Thomas.

Femme

Jules, played by Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, is targeted in a horrific homophobic attack – that destroys his life and career. After the event he encounters Preston in a gay sauna, played by Peter Pan’s George MacKay, who turns out to be one of his attackers. But it’s not a journey of forgiveness with Femme, and Jules wants revenge. Expect this thriller to be keeping you on your toes, jumping from romance to anger in a heartbeat.

Fairyland

In 1970s San Francisco, young Alysia is uprooted by her father Steve after the passing of her mother, as he develops his personal writings and begins to openly date men. His newfound bohemian lifestyle becomes hard for Alysia (played by Emilia Jones) to deal with. In a struggle with her own need for support and less independence, the father/ daughter bond is tested, as the stories of this relationship remain true to the memoir from Alysia’s own childhood. The cast includes Geena Davis, Cody Fern, Adam Lambert and Scoot McNairy as Steve. 

Strangers

The story of two Strangers shows a chance encounter between screenwriter Adam (played by Fleabag’s priest Andrew Scott) and mysterious neighbour Harry (played by Normal People’s Paul Mescal). Set in a near-empty tower block in London, the two become closer and closer, as Adam reflects on his childhood and discovers that his long-dead parents are both living and look the same age as they did when they passed thirty years ago. The cast will feature Claire Foy and Jamie Bell, and will be a loose adaptation of the 1987 novel by Taichi Yamada of the same name. It could also be the film where two of Britains hottest male actors break the internet, but we will have to wait and see on that one. 

Mother Mary

And of course, one of the most anticipated queer movies of the season since its announcement has to be A24’s Mother Mary, with Chewing Gum star Michaela Cole and Anne Hathaway starring as lovers navigating the pop and fashion world. Read more about the Charli XCX soundtrack, songs by Anne Hathaway and Twitter reactions to the news here

Writer
Ella Chadwick
Banner Image Credit
'Bottoms' trailer