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7 September 2021 1:51 PM

Queer as Folk reboot cast and characters announced

Special star Ryan O'Connell is among the stars joining the eagerly-anticipated series.

By Alastair James

Words: Alastair James; pictures:

Special’s Ryan O’Connell has joined the cast of the Queer as Folk reboot, along with four others. The news comes soon after the series’ first casting announcement last month.

In August, it was confirmed that non-binary actor Jesse James Keitel had been cast in a key role, but now we have more details about who’s appearing in the new show.

Variety has previously reported that the Peacock series will follow a diverse group of friends in New Orleans whose lives are transformed in the aftermath of a tragedy.

“I’m playing the gay one”

Special creator and actor Ryan O’Connell will play “a pop culture nerd with cerebral palsy who is more than ready for some independence.” He’s also signed on as a writer and co-executive producer, according to Deadline. Ryan captioned a screenshot of Deadline’s article with his typical sense of humour; “I’m playing the gay one”. 

 
 
 
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A post shared by Ryan O’Connell (@ryanoconn)

He joins Keitel, who’s known for her work in ABC’s Big Sky. Four other new cast members have been added to the roster, which Deadline has also announced.

Candace Grace (Acts of Crime) will play a non-binary professor from New Orleans who’s moving from punk to parenthood. Devin Way, of Grey’s Anatomy, will play a charming and sometimes chaotic commitment-phobe who finds a way to stay in New Orleans” after a tragedy.

Fin Argus (Clouds) will play a cocky high schooler with more bravado than experience. Known from Pose and Hacks, Johnny Sibilly has been cast as “a successful lawyer who is not as put together as he seems.”

Tweeting after the announcement of his casting Johnny said it was a dream come true to be cast in the “ICONIC” show.

Queer As Folk originally aired on Channel 4 in 1999 and focused on the lives and loves of three gay men in Manchester’s Canal Street. It was written by Russell T Davies, who will serve as an executive producer on the new project.

The show ran for two series until 2000, and a US remake ran for five seasons from 2000-2005.

The reboot, which is being produced by Peacock, NBC’s streaming service, will consist of eight episodes and is due to air in Spring 2022 after going into production later this year.

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