In years past, drag queens have been shown in the public eye far more than drag kings, most notably in shows such as
Ru Paul’s Drag Race, but thanks to
a new movie, drag kings are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
In an upcoming film called
The Young King, Kiersey Clemons will play the part of Jules, an aspiring drag king who meets up with her estranged father, Mick, played by Michael Shannon, in Las Vegas, where she is going to start her career as well. There, she meets and pursues a stoic dancer called Ronnie, played by Barbie Ferreira. Mick, who is known for gambling, is not quite a fan of Jules’ presentation as a man and even less a fan of her romantic entanglement with Ronnie.
Currently, Barbie Ferreira is working on
Euphoria, the gritty drama about high school, where she portrays Kat Hernandez. She is not returning for the next season, allegedly due to behind-the-scenes conflict with the creator of the show, Sam Levinson as well as reduced screen time. Ferreria also appeared in Jordan Peele’s
Nope, an amazing horror that delves into fame culture and the effects it can have.
As for Kiersey Clemons, they will star as Iris West, the down-to-earth love interest of The Flash, as well as starring in an Apple TV+’s series on the Godzilla Monsterverse.
The Young King will also feature an original score written by Justin Tranter, who worked with Lady Gaga and Brittany Spears, and will be directed by Larin Sullivan.
Mister Smith Entertainment’s CEO, David Garett, states, “We are delighted to present Larin’s fresh twist on a classic Vegas story by shining a light on the drag king scene, which has rarely, if ever, been explored on the big screen. Led by our stellar cast, this is an incredibly emotional, father-daughter story that will resonate with buyers and audiences.”
Photo courtesy of Barbie Ferreira’s Instagram.
By Pen Watkins
