Oscar winner Ariana DeBose to star in ‘bisexual My Best Friend’s Wedding’
Ariana DeBose will executive produce and star in a new film that has been described as a queer spin on My Best Friend’s Wedding. (Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Ariana DeBose has signed onto a new rom-com described as My Best Friend’s Wedding “with a bisexual Latinx POV” right after her historic Oscar win.
DeBose will executive produce and star in a new LGBT+ film titled Two and Only. According to Deadline, the film has been characterised as “My Best Friend’s Wedding with a bisexual Latinx POV”.
The film was written by Latina and LGBT+ writer Jen Rivas-DeLoose and was developed specifically as a star vehicle for DeBose.
My Best Friend’s Wedding was released almost 25-years-ago in 1997 and starred Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz and Rupert Everett. The romantic comedy followed Julianne Potter (Roberts) trying to sabotage the wedding of her lifelong friend Michael O’Neal (Mulroney) after realising that she is in love with him.
Ariana DeBose appeared thrilled to join the new film in a statement on Twitter and said she was eager to “learn a thing or two” in her role as executive producer.
“Let’s try a rom com,” she wrote. “So excited to take on a new challenge and learn a thing or two about producing.”
Let’s try a rom com!
So excited to take on a new challenge and learn a thing or two about producing.
Thrilled to be a part of this incredible team including Jen Rivas-DeLoose, Screen Gems’ Scott Strauss and @kgisellej and Sad Unicorn’s Randall Einhorn and Jeremy Stern! https://t.co/BUrSWkkOmE
— Ariana DeBose (@ArianaDeBose) April 13, 2022
Two and Only will be overseen by entertainment studio Screen Gems, according to Deadline. The film will be produced by Sad Unicorn’s Jeremy Stern and Randall Einhorn and Screen Gems’ Scott Strauss and Giselle Johnson will be overseeing production.
In March, Ariana DeBose went down in history as the first openly queer woman of colour to win an Oscar. DeBose took home the esteemed award for Best Supporting Actress for her amazing performance in the Steven Spielberg-directed West Side Story remake.
“So to anybody who’s ever questioned your identity, ever, ever, ever, or you find yourself living in the grey spaces, I promise you this, there is indeed a place for us,” she said during her emotional acceptance speech.
DeBose opened up about the “historical moment” in the press room after her win, Variety reported. She said it was “freaking awesome” that she is the first “openly queer woman of colour” to win an Oscar.
DeBose also noted that she is just the “second Latina to win an acting award” after Rita Moreno won in the same category for her portrayal of Anita in the 1962 film adaptation of West Side Story.
“And I think that just proves that there’s space for us,” DeBose said. “It’s a beautiful moment to be seen. And I’m really honoured by that.”
Ariana DeBose has a busy schedule ahead of her as she’s set to appear in Marvel’s upcoming movie Kraven the Hunter, starring Aaron Taylor Johnson in the titular role.
She will also appear in the space thriller ISS as an astronaut on the International Space Station.
DeBose is also part of the star-studded cast of the upcoming spy film Argylle. She will star in the film alongside Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena, Samuel L Jackson and Dua Lipa.
