Bros is an upcoming romantic comedy that has broken down barriers in Hollywood, and early reviews have called the LGBTQ+ film charming but familiar. While other romantic comedies have featured gay supporting characters, there has never been a major studio rom-com that focuses on a gay couple, let alone one that features an all-LGBTQ+ cast.

The movie, which was written by and stars Billy Eichner, has already changed the Hollywood landscape before it's even been released, and it all came together naturally... for the most part. Between actors turning down certain sex sequences and promoting the film in unique ways, the upcoming rom-com had an interesting production.

Luke MacFarlane Did A Lot Of Workouts During The Shoot

Luke Macfarlane in Killjoys

Luke MacFarlane isn't exactly a household name for film buffs who love blockbuster movies, but for those who tune into the Hallmark channel, he's almost like the station's mascot. The actor has had so much success playing many supporting characters and even lead roles, and that's thanks in part to his impressive build.

According to Variety, shooting Bros didn't interfere with his workout routine. The actor explains that he even did a hundred crunches a day even though he admits, "It’s a little boring." MacFarlane also went on a major diet to maintain his look, forgoing the wine and cheese that he loves so much.

MacFarlane Refused To Do One Sex Scene

Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane in Bros

It has been well-documented how the film is full of sex scenes, most of which are comedy-centric, and many have reported that the scenes are fairly graphic and detailed. But while it seems like the performers didn't hold back, MacFarlane refused one idea that was pitched to him by Eichner.

According to Advocate, MacFarlane turned down Eichner when he proposed that they spit on each other. The actor recalled, "I think there was a moment when Billy was like, 'Should we spit on each other?’ I was like, 'Nope.'" Of all the awkward movies to watch with parents, it's safe to say that Bros should be added to the list.

It Was Written As A Response To Hollywood

Billy Eichner as Bobby in Bros Movie
Billy Eichner as Bobby in Bros Movie

According to CBS News, Eichner wrote the movie as a response to Hollywood movies that he has seen for decades, the ones that depict LGBT characters as caricatures or as the gay best friend archetype. Though he admits that he has great admiration for older rom-coms, some of which even influenced the 2022 film, he takes issue with how gay men have been portrayed, if at all.

The actor explained, "They never made one about a gay couple. We weren't in those movies at all. We weren't even the best friend at that point. We just were nowhere to be found." Now, Eichner has flipped the switch, and straight males are the caricatures.

It Has An Entirely LGBTQ+ Cast

While there are so many feel-good LGBT movies, many of the lead roles are played by straight actors, and some of them have been nominated and even won Academy Awards for their performances. But the upcoming romantic comedy has set a precedent in Hollywood, as Bros has an almost entirely LGBTQ+ principal cast.

Even the heterosexual characters are played by LGBT actors, totally subverting the Hollywood norm. However, there are a couple of exceptions, such as Debra Messing and Kristin Chenoweth, but co-writer Nick Stoller has called them "allies" of the community (via The New York Times.)

Billy Eichner Wanted Bros To Resemble Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Jason Segel and Kristen Bell in Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is one of the funniest 2000s comedies, as it completely reinvented the romantic comedy genre. It's one of many hit comedy movies produced by Judd Apatow in the 2000s, and in a Screen Rant interview with Bill Eichner, the writer/star confessed that he wanted to make a movie that fits in with those releases.

The actor explained, "I wanted to make a movie like that, but one that happens to be about a gay couple and with LGBTQ characters because we've never gotten that." It's no wonder why Bros feels like one of those films, as Eichner developed the movie with Nick Stoller, who also directed Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Eichner Didn't Want To Walk On Eggshells

Luke MacFarlane and Billy Eichner in Bros

If it wasn't clear from the idea that MacFarlane rejected, Eichner didn't hold back when it came to writing the movie, and according to the same Screen Rant article, he didn't want to walk on eggshells. But that's not only referring to the provocative sequences, but the real moments about what it's like being in the LGBTQ+ community too.

The actor noted, "We've had a lot of movies and shows which walk on eggshells around the gay characters' lives, or maybe were not as multi-dimensional as we could be or should be. I really wanted this to be the exception to that, and it was a beautiful collaboration at the end of the day." While critics have called the movie hilarious, they've also noted how surprisingly deep the rom-com is too.

Old Romantic Comedies Inspired The Movie

In the same Screen Rant interview, Eichner revealed that Forgetting Sarah Marshall and other Apatow-produced movies weren't the only influences on the new film. The actor and writer explained that even though there isn't much diversity in the films, romantic comedies from the 1970s and 1980s left a huge impression on him.

Eichner listed his influences, noting, "I loved Moonstruck, When Harry Met Sally, Annie Hall, Working Girl, and Tootsie. Broadcast News is probably my favorite; I really love Holly Hunter's character in that movie." All those movies are considered classics, and while some of the jokes found in them haven't aged that well, When Harry Met Sally still holds up today.

Eve Lindley Has A Creative Backstory For Her Character

Sally Field and Eve Lindley in Dispatches from Elsewhere

In a Screen Rant interview with some of the supporting actors of the movie, Eve Lindley discussed her role as Tamara, the curator of a museum. She's one of the characters that steal the show whenever she's on screen and has become one of the most talked-about parts of the new movie. The character's actions clearly hint at the fact that she shouldn't have the job that she does, and Lindley agrees.

Lindley has an interesting couple of backstory options for the character, positing, "I think that's the question. Everybody has been asking themselves. And we think maybe her dad owns the museum. That's one option. Or maybe her dad just bought her way into a very good college, and this is some kind of work-study situation."

Billy On The Street Returned To Promote The Movie

Eichner has had recurring roles on comedy shows like Parks and Recreation and has voiced characters in huge blockbuster movies like 2019's The Lion King. But despite those hugely popular projects, the actor is ironically best known for his Funny or Die web series Billy on the Street.

The series saw Eichner roam around New York as an obnoxious and exaggerated version of himself, and he'd spontaneously roast and joke with passers-by. The series ended in 2017, but years later, he brought the show back to promote Bros. Along with Eichner, Paul Rudd appeared to help harass civilians and throw dollar bills at them.

It Has Opened The Door For More LGBTQ+ Major Movies

According to Time, Eichner has two other major LGBTQ+ projects in the works. He will star in Amazon Prime Video's Ex-Husbands, which the actor has called a "big, gay divorce comedy." And he'll play Paul Lynde in an upcoming biopic about the real-life gay comedian.

Even though it hasn't been released yet, the movie's influence can already be seen in huge in-development projects. With Eichner's new movie, while the jury's still out over how well it will do at the box office, it has undoubtedly changed the landscape of Hollywood and how studios look at LGBTQ+ characters.

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