How I Would Recast Queer as Folk
John Sibiliy as Zephyr
Zephyr is our Brian character. He grew up in a working class family that had a lot of trouble. His commitment issues are on display as he goes from trick to trick and puts forth a no nonsense attitude. He is up for Partner at his Ad firm and wants the world.
Brandon Kneefel as Michael
In this iteration Michael would be in a profession where he makes a lot of money but hates because he is paying off Debbie's mortgage behind her back, and his own. I would keep Debbie and Vic and the family connection because it would be great to see that reimagined
and Debbie recast would be Rosie Perez. Michael has the same characteristics we love about him except that he's not as whiny as he was in the original series. That's replaced with a "I know it's not fair, or right but I have to do what I have to do until I can change it"
Rosie Perez as Debbie. Debbie's Diner is the name of her establishment. She bought it from the previous owner and introduced Puerto Rican food to the neighborhood. She's Michael's Mother and a Mother of the Gayborhood. This keeps the diner as a setting but also keeps Debbie in the Diner for work
OR Kim Hawthorne
If she is cast, I think I would keep the Puerto Rican angle because there are Puerto Ricans that you would assume are black until they started speaking Spanish. Uncle Vic would also be a Spanish speaker so they can hide information from the other cast members to keep themselves in the loop
Jeremy McClain as Jacob
First thing I would change: His age from 17 to 19 even though on a technicality Jacob would still be legal at 17, I think 19 is easier because I wouldn't feel dodgy about it. He's still young enough to do stupid shit without being perceived underage where sex is concerned. His age of 19 would age him to a college freshman or sophmore
Since he'll be in college, and college is its own artificial world it could be a Christian college he originally goes to (legacy admission that can expose privilege) and later transfer to a public college where his homosexuality isn't as frowned upon and they even have a GSA on campus. I think that his Dad would cut him off when he went to public college, or have Jacob guilt his Father into bankrolling his tuition
He and Zephyr will be on and off again but settle on a fwb kind of thing that Brian and Justin had in the series but in a way that's more evenhanded like Justin WANTS this for himself as well.
Personality: Artist, creative, fashionable, cute and knows it, and assertive
Angelica Ross as Syriah
Syriah works at the same ad firm and contemplates leaving the firm to start her own. In order to placate her, the firm makes her partner. She does a great job, and fights to get other transwomen employed at the firm to play it forward. She finds ways to employ other LGBT and gender non conforming staff to the firm. She will be the voice that slaps Brian down when he feels he's being wronged as a man by his superiors. Ross would be great in the role because her sass and wit, will cut people to the quick around her and realize that she shouldn't be taken lightly
Jensen Atwood as Damon
or Luke James
Jensen Atwood/Luke James as Damon. Damon is bisexual and runs the gym and yoga center with Michael. During the series he will be seen courting and dating men and women. He will be evenly split and shown growing with each, leaving toxic relationships. I would definitely explore how the guys treat him differently when he is dating a woman vs when he is dating a man.
Beaux Banks as Emmett
Emmett from Hazelhurst, MS and is the life of the party. A flamer that could never hide his flame, and was picked on by his brothers until he started boxing and fighting them back. He left Hazelhurst because he'd always felt he was too big for that box and needed a bigger place and to be himself. He makes sure to call his Aunt Lula at least once a week but not less than once a month, and we'll see her on occasion (hopefully at least three times during a 5 season arc, once for gay pride and another time when she just wants to get out of Hazelhurst) He works in a gig economy like an Uber driver and flirts with being a go go boy and later party planner. His confrontations are quiet and cold, and private. No one needs to know when he's slapped someone down all he needs is the other person to know it. He's always thinking a move ahead and that makes him someone you don't want to cross
Gary Leroi Gray as Theo
Theo will be the Ted character; a young successful man, and a touch conservative which puts him at odds with his friends. He goes to the clubs but tries to do things that are not explicitly gay in order to distance himself from what he says are the unsavory things about the gay community. When Stockwell runs for Mayor, he will intend to vote for him saying "My sexuality doesn't define me, I'm not voting with my dick" When he's called out about his past and how he's failed to live up to his own standards of ethics, it can really create a dialogue and show him self reflect.
Keith Hamilton Cobb as Uncle Vic
Uncle Vic: Uncle to Michael, Brother to Debbie. Debbie helped nurse him back to health when his health insurance ran out and later becomes a cook at the diner when he wanted to get back to work and get an apartment of his own. He lives in the apartment upstairs from the diner but spends most of his time with Debbie and Michael. He speaks fluent Spanish and spent time in Africa when he thought he was going to die
I think I'll just drop the lesbians because they irritated the hell out of me
What do you think of the cast?
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