NBCUniversal streaming service Peacock has announced that Queer as Folk, the vibrant reimagining of the groundbreaking British series, will premiere on Thursday, June 9. You can watch the date announcement video below.
Created by Russell T. Davies, the series explores a diverse group of friends in New Orleans whose lives are transformed in the aftermath of a tragedy. Queer as Folk is produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group.
The new series was created, written, and executive produced by Stephen Dunn, who will also direct the pilot episode and other episodes. Jaclyn Moore is also a writer and executive producer.
The additional executive producers include Lee Eisenberg, Emily Brecht, original series creator Russell T. Davies, Nicola Shindler, and Louise Pedersen on behalf of All3 Media International, which distributes the format and the original British series produced by Red Productions for Channel 4. Executive producer Brian Dannelly also directs.
Stephen Dunn is an award-winning writer/director based in Los Angeles. Most recently, Dunn co-wrote and directed the Spirit Award and GLAAD Award-nominated episode, “The Son”, of the Apple TV+ series Little America.
His debut feature, Closet Monster, had its world premiere at TIFF 2015; it won the Canada Goose Award for Best Canadian Feature. The film has been released by Strand.
“Like most queer ‘90s kids, I had a unique relationship with the original Queer as Folk. Growing up, I was desperate for any sort of connection with people like me. It was the first time I really felt seen,” said Dunn.
“The show offered a new paradigm – one where we could accept and celebrate queer love, families, and communities on a global stage. It was truly iconic. I am honored that Russell T. Davies, the creator of the original series, entrusted me to continue this legacy.
He added: “I wanted to create a new groundbreaking version of this show for this moment. Our new Queer as Folk is set in New Orleans — one of the most unique queer communities in North America — and I am immensely proud that the new series is comprised of an electric ensemble of fresh characters that mirror the modern global audience.
“If there’s one person who is able to see Queer as Folk and feel less alone, or who now feels more supported and seen, our job is done. In the true spirit of the original, our show doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of our community, but above all else, the series is about people who live vibrant, vital, unapologetically queer lives.”
Russell T. Davies added: “I’m very proud of what we achieved in 1999, but in queer years, that was a millennium ago! As a community, we’ve radicalized, explored, opened up, and found new worlds – with new enemies and new allies – and there was so much to be said.
“Stephen pitched a brand new version of Queer as Folk with so much imagination, insight, and, crucially, joy that I simply couldn’t resist. I thought it was about time the title belonged to a whole new generation. The 2022 show is more diverse, more wild, more free, more angry – everything a queer show should be.”
Executive producer and writer Jaclyn Moore commented: “I believe deeply in the power of storytelling to make people feel seen, but all too often, I feel as though queer and trans representation in art is limited to extremes. We are either shown as saintly heroes bravely surviving a bigoted society or two-dimensional queer-coded villains that feel airdropped in from some previous era.
“With Queer as Folk, we aimed to depict queer characters who live in the messy middle. People who are complicated. Who are funny and caring and flawed and sometimes selfish but still worthy of love. It’s still worthy of narrative. As a trans woman, I’m excited to take steps to move past telling stories that seem just to be arguing for our basic humanity. My hope is that Queer as Folk is one such step.”
QUEER AS FOLK SERIES REGULARS
Devin Way (he/him) will play Brodie (he/him), a charming and sometimes chaotic commitment-phobe who finds a reason to stay in New Orleans after tragedy rocks his community.
Fin Argus (they/them) will play Mingus (he/him/they/them), a cocky high schooler whose confidence belies their lack of real-world experience.
Jesse James Keitel (she/her) will play Ruthie (she/her), a trans, semi-reformed party girl who is struggling to grow up.
CG (they/them) will play Shar (they/them), a non-binary professor navigating the rocky transition from punk to parenthood.
Johnny Sibilly (he/him) will play Noah (he/him), a successful lawyer who is not as put together as he seems.
Ryan O’Connell (he/him) will play Julian (he/him), a pop culture nerd with cerebral palsy who is more than ready for some independence. O’Connell also serves as a writer and co-executive producer on the series.
GUEST STARS:
Kim Cattrall (she/her) will play Brenda (she/her), a martini-soaked, high-society southern debutant with trailer park roots.
Juliette Lewis (she/her) will play Judy (she/her), a single mom who is more of a friend than a parent to her teenager.
Ed Begley Jr. (he/him) will play Winston (he/him), an emotionally distant father.
Armand Fields (they/them) will play Bussey (she/her in drag he/him out of drag), the reigning drag queen and matriarch of the local scene.
Chris Renfro (they/them) will play Daddius (he/they), a fun-loving hedonist who is always the life of the party.
Eric Graise (he/him) will play Marvin (he/him), a jaded barfly who DNGAF about your problems.
Sachin Bhatt (he/him) will play Ali (he/him), an empathetic sex worker.
Benito Skinner (he/him) will play Jack Cole Jordan (he/him), a self-aggrandizing influencer.
Nyle DiMarco (he/him) will play Leo (he/him), a charming grad student.
Lukas Gage (he/him) will play Eric (he/him), a personal trainer.
Megan Stalter (she/her) will play Meg (she/her), an aspiring singer.
Olli Haaskivi (he/him) will play George (he/him), a friend from the mall.
Calvin Seabrooks (he/him) will play Taylor (he/him), a reluctant dinner party guest.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills in 2018 to cover the latest news on streaming, movies, TV, and video games.