Janelle Monae
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Feminist icon Gloria Steinem’s 2015 memoir titled My Life On The Road concerned her childhood, one that saw her moving from place to place, and how it informed her later life as a writer and an activist for women’s rights. Now that book will be a film from director Julie Taymor (Frida, Across The Universe) called The Glorias: A Life on The Road. No fewer than four actors will portray Steinem at various stages in life: Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Netflix’s Anne), Lulu Wilson (Sharp Objects), Alicia Vikander and Julianne Moore. And they’ll be joined by queer icon Janelle Monae in a supporting role, as well as Timothy Hutton, Bette Midler and Lorraine Toussaint. Already wrapped, no release date has been set, but we’re excited that a living, breathing heroine of modern civil rights is getting the biopic treatment. And of course these kinds of films carry with them the familiar feeling of awards season, which means it’s going to be Feminist Christmas this year. Or next. 

We just reported on the (brilliant, we think) decision on the part of Netflix to show its subscribers the closing night performance of Broadway’s heartwarming queer musical Prom, later this summer. And now the movie adaptation is in the works from, who else, Ryan Murphy, king of all things high school and singing. Oh, and he has stars: Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Ariana Grande, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key and Andrew Rannells, for starters, with a casting call on to fill the role of teenage lesbian Emma, whose one wish is to bring her girlfriend to the prom. This one has a timeline in place, a late 2020 theatrical release for awards consideration, and you know La Streep will not rest until she gets an Oscar for super-singing in a musical comedy. So it’s pretty much on.

 

Romeo San Vicente Loves anything Janelle Monae!