Netflix has finally released the first trailer for its upcoming Ryan Murphy-produced feature film, The Boys in the Band. Based on the late Mart Crowley's 1968 play of the same name, the Netflix production promises to be one of this fall's can't-miss movies. However, it isn't the first time Crowley's play has been adapted for the film, coming exactly fifty years after a William Friedkin-directed movie version was released in 1970. While there will undoubtedly be some differences between that iteration of the story and this month's Netflix production, both films are notable for featuring groups of actors who had previously appeared in the play on stage.
Indeed, where the 1970 film's cast was comprised of actors who had worked on the play's initial stage run, the newest incarnation of The Boys in the Band features the same core ensemble from the 2018 Broadway revival. That production, which won the 2019 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, starred Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells, and Charlie Carver, among others. All of those actors returned to star in the new film, which is directed by Hollywood star Joe Mantello, who also directed the 2018 Broadway revival.
With only a few weeks left to go until its premiere, Netflix officially released the first trailer for The Boys in the Band online today. Set in 1968 New York City, the story follows a group of gay men who get together for a birthday party. However, their evening takes an unexpected turn when the party's host experiences a surprise visit by someone from his past. The Boys in the Band will make its Netflix debut on September 30. You can check out the first trailer for it below:
The trailer does a good job highlighting both The Boys in the Band's flashy visual look – something that has come to be expected from any project produced by Murphy – and the performances of its talented cast members. In particular, the trailer places a heavy focus on Parsons' Michael, the host of the story's central party, who delivers some of the most emotionally vulnerable moments of the whole video. The upcoming film is one of the biggest projects Parsons has starred in since The Big Bang Theory ended last year and could bring him one step closer to being known for more than just his work on the CBS series.
The Boys in the Band is also one of many promising films Netflix is releasing this fall. With a late September release date, it's slated to hit the streaming service in the same month as a few other highly anticipated titles. These include the upcoming Charlie Kaufman-directed I'm Thinking of Ending Things and the Tom Holland-led thriller, The Devil All the Time. Based on this trailer alone, it's not hard to see why Netflix is releasing The Boys in the Band in such a prime fall season slot. It could very well be one of the films critics and viewers alike are talking about during the 2020 awards race (whenever that starts kicking into gear).
Source: Netflix