Laverne Cox Archives - Big Gay Picture Show

Freak Show Trailer – Alex Lawther, Bette Midler & Laverne Cox star in the queer-themed movie

May 21, 2018 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Freak Show is preparing for its UK release, and in the run-up to the queer-themed movie’s British debut, a new trailer and poster has been released. The film also marks the feature directorial debut of Trudie Styler, best known for acting, producing and being married to Sting.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Based on the award-winning cult novel by James St James and in the vein of ’Clueless’ and ‘Napoleon Dynamite,’ FREAK SHOW tells the moving, heart-breaking and hilarious story of Billy Bloom (Alex Lawther), a boldly confident and eccentric teenager who faces intolerance and persecution at his ultra conservative high school, and decides to fight back on behalf of all the misunderstood freaks of the world. FREAK SHOW stars Alex Lawther alongside Abigail Breslin, Bette Midler, Larry Pine, John McEnroe, AnnaSophia Robb and Laverne Cox and comes to cinemas across the UK and on demand on 22 June through Maven Pictures.

‘BILLY BLOOM (Alex Lawther), once lived a fabulous life in Connecticut, with his equally fabulous mother, MUV (Bette Midler). But when he is suddenly shipped off to his father’s (Larry Pine) Southern mansion, he finds himself a fish out of water.

‘With his closet of extravagant and flamboyant attire, Billy is completely different from the cheerleaders, bible belles and beefy quarterbacks at his new high school. Yet despite the well-meant advice of his father and his housekeeper FLORENCE (Celia Weston) that he should just throw on some blue jeans, Billy is determined to be himself – even if that does mean wearing face glitter to school.’

Take a look at the trailer and poster below. [Read more…]

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ACTORS: Alex Lawther, Abigail Breslin, Bette Midler, Laverne Cox

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Trailer – Laverne Cox channels her best Frank ‘n’ Furter

July 23, 2016 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Richard O’Brien might not be on board with a new TV movie version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (probably because he’s a bit of a curmudgeon who, unexpectedly, has issues with transgender people), but there are plenty of people out there keen to see what Laverne Cox will do in the role of Dr. Frank ‘n’ Furter.

High School Musical’s Kenny Ortega is behind the camera, with, Reeve Carney, Victoria Justice, Adam Lambert, Christina Milian and Ben Vereen set to star. As the trailer shows us, Tim Curry is also back, although this time he’s playing the role of the narrator.

It certainly looks like it might be fun, playing on the quirkiness as well as the audience participation that’s built up around the show. The film will debut in the US around Halloween, and will hopefully be seen in the UK around the same time. [Read more…]

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ACTORS: Laverne Cox, Reeve Carney, Victoria Justice, Adam Lambert, Christina Milian, Ben Vereen DIRECTORS: Kenny Ortega FILMS: Rocky Horror Picture Show (2016)

Rocky Horror Picture Show Teaser – Laverne Cox turns Dr. Frank-N-Furter

May 17, 2016 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

US TV network Fox has been releasing TV teasers for the new shows it’s planning to premiere this Autumn, and amongst them was a brief look at their new TV movie version of classic Rocky Horror Picture Show. It doesn’t show too much, but there’s enough there to show it could be fun.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show follows sweethearts Janet (Victoria Justice) and Brad (Ryan McCartan), who stumble upon Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s (Laverne Cox) bizarre abode. Frank-N-Furter, a sexually ambiguous, flirtatious alien mad-scientist – with the help of his faithful servants, Riff Raff (Reeve Carney) and Magenta – is holding an annual, Transylvanian science convention to showcase the birth of “Rocky Horror” (Staz Nair) – a fit, attractive man created solely to fulfill Frank’s desires.

Executive-produced by Lou Adler (Grammy Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee), Gail Berman (TV, film and Broadway producer) and Kenny Ortega (“High School Musical” franchise, “This Is It,” “Descendants,” “Hocus Pocus,” “Newsies”), The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a reimagining of the cult classic, which is celebrating 40 years of theatrical distribution – longer than any other film in history. One of the most popular films of all time, it still plays in movie theaters around the world.’

Unlike some other recent TV event musicals, this one won’t be broadcast live. Instead it’ll be a TV movie take on the classic Richard O’Brien show, which is due to air this autumn, having recently been filming in the US south.

Take a look below. [Read more…]

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ACTORS: Laverne Cox, Reeve Carney, Victoria Justice, Ryan McCartan DIRECTORS: Kenny Ortega FILMS: Rocky Horror Picture Show (2016)

First Look At Laverne Cox As Dr. Frank-N-Furter In TV’s New Rocky Horror Picture Show

May 12, 2016 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Laverne Cox is certainly rocking a different look here, swapping the Orange Is The New Black prison clothes for the fishnets and leather of Fox’s new take on The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Although some have been nervous about the transsexual Cox playing the ‘sweet transvestite’, and whether it would underline trans prejudices, it seems they’re going for a less sexually ambiguous look than Tim Curry in the 1970s film.

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ACTORS: Laverne Cox, Ben Vereen FILMS: Rocky Horror Picture Show (2016)

Laverne Cox To Take On Frank-N-Furter In Fox’s TV Remake Of Rocky Horror Picture Show

October 22, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is getting a remake, this time as a TV event made for the Fox Network which is set to be directed by High School Musical’s Kenny Ortega. Now the production has found the person for the iconic role of Frank-N-Furter – the wonderful Laverne Cox.

While the role of the ‘sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania’ is traditionally played by a man, this time around it’s getting a bit of a twist with a transgender woman taking the part.

Due to be screened in 2016, the TV production will see Cox as the owner of a peculiar castle full of eccentric characters. The strait-laced Brad & Janet accidentally end up in their midst, and discover that Frank-N-Furter has been building himself a man in his laboratory. It also unleashes the sexual desires that Brad & Janet have been busily suppressing. The cult stage and screen phenomenon pays homage to b-movie sci and horror of the 50s, dosed wih liberal sprinklings of pansexual openness, which has helped ensure it’s remained popular for 40 years.

Unlike NBC’s recent live TV versions of The Sound Of Music and Peter Pan, Rocky will be shot in advance and screened during the autumn of 2016.

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ACTORS: Laverne Cox

Orange Is The New Black – Season 2 (Blu-ray Review)

May 18, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Starring: Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Laverne Cox, Uzo Aduba, Natasha Lyonne
Director: Various
Running Time: 780 mins
Certificate: 15
Release Date: May 18th 2015 (UK)

When Season 1 of Orange Is The New Black debuted on Netflix it proved that House Of Cards wasn’t a fluke and that the streaming service could compete with the US TV networks in terms of quality. However it was noticeable that while it was entertaining, it sometimes felt like its best characters were given short shrift, while the less interesting ones got all the screen time.

They seem to have realised that as with Season 2 the show manages to far better integrate the likes of the majestic Laverne Cox’s Sophia (although she’s still not in it enough), and Uzo Aduba’s ‘Crazy Eyes’. Indeed the show gives Uzo so much room to showcase her talents that she won an Emmy. It’s great that in a rare show that’s peopled almost completely by women, Orange Is The New Black has grown the confidence to realise that it has enough great characters that any of them can carry the story. [Read more…]

Laverne Cox Is Turning Transgender Lawyer For Legal Drama Doubt

February 11, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Laverne Cox made a massive impact in Orange Is The New Black, resulting in her becoming a bona fide star and being the first transgender person to make the cover of Time magazine and the first to receive an Emmy nomination. She has helped frame the zeitgeist at a time when trans* issues have never been so talked about.

The fact is though, that as successful as Orange Is The New Black has been, it is only available on Netflix and so hasn’t reached the sort of audience a major network show can. She may be remedying that though as she’s taking a major role in the pilot for a potential CBS called Doubt.

Variety reports that show will follow ‘a yet-to-be-cast attorney who gets romantically involved with one of her clients who may or may not be guilty of a brutal crime’. Cox meanwhile will be will Cameron Wirth, a Ivy League-educated lawyer who’s both competitive and compassionate. Described as fierce and funny, Cameron’s own experience with injustice as result of being a trans* woman causes her to fight even harder for all of her clients.

Of course getting a pilot order isn’t a guarantee the show will end up on television, but Grey’s Anatomy producers Joan Rater and Tony Phelan who are behind the show have definitely made a smart move hiring Cox.

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ACTORS: Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox Makes History As The First Transgender Emmy Nominee Ever

July 10, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

The rise of Orange Is The New Black’s Laverne Cox continues with the actress scoring a Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy nomination, which marks the first time a transgender person has ever been so honoured.

Cox’s nomination is just one of 12 the show received, with the series’ actresses dominating the comedy categories. Alongside Laverne in the Guest Actress list are Natasha Lyonne and Uzo Aduba, Kate Mulgrew is up for Best Supporting Actress and Taylor Schilling will compete for Best Actress In A Comedy Series.

It was a good year for LGBT-themed entertainment, as along with Orange Is The New Black’s noms, The Normal Heart scored major attention for its actors, as Mark Ruffalo is up for Best Actor In A Miniseries Or Movie, while in the Best Supporting Actor category it scored an incredible four of the five noms for Alfred Molina, Jim Parson, Joe Mantello and Matt Bomer. Julia Roberts also got a look in on the Supporting Actress list.

Indeed, looking through the list of Emmy nominees the vast majority of shows included in the list include gay content, from Modern Family and Game Of Thrones, to Masters Of Sex and Downton Abbey.

However, while it’s been an incredible year for Laverne Cox, topped by her Emmy nomination and being featured on the cover of Time, the actress has been talking recently about how her rise to success has come with a dark side – as more public exposure has resulted in increased attacks on her on the internet. While it has often been noted that social media has allowed transgender people to start controlling their own public stories for the first time, the flipside is that it means the entire world can answer back, and many people are both cruel and almost stunningly bigoted.

In an emotional interview with BET, Cox says, “I’ve felt it since the cover of TIME Magazine, like all of a sudden like my Twitter feed and my Instagram there’s all this negativity. I was getting Google Alerts about me [somehow being in league] with Satan.”

You can take a look below. [Read more…]

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ACTORS: Laverne Cox FILMS: Orange Is The New Black, The Normal Heart

Orange Is The New Black – Season 1 (Blu-ray Review)

May 21, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Starring: Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Jason Biggs, Laverne Cox, Kate Mulgrew
Director: Various
Running Time: 700 mins
Certificate: 15
Release Date: May 19th 2014 (UK)

When Netflix first announced it was going to make TV-style series, few people expected much. After all, most previous web content that stretched beyond a few minutes was absolutely dreadful. However the subscription-based internet upstart has proved they can equal or even better the US networks, with House Of Cards winning Golden Globes and Emmys, while Orange Is The New Black took TV Program Of The Year at the AFI Awards and received almost universal acclaim.

Loosely based on an acclaimed memoir, the 13 episodes of Season 1 follows Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), who’s been sentenced to a term in prison for transporting drug money and is just about to enter a US women’s federal penitentiary. That means leaving behind her nice, middle-class life and her fiancé (Jason Biggs) and going to a place she knows nothing about. [Read more…]