Latest news with #Twinless
Buzz Feed
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
13 Queer Movies We're Excited To Watch In 2025
If 2024 proved anything, it's that queer storytelling is no longer confined to the fringes—it's thriving across genres, platforms, and budgets. From watching the emotionally charged All of Us Strangers to power-packed performances in Challengers, mainstream studios embraced LGBTQ+ narratives with more depth and indie films continued to push boundaries with fresh perspectives and bold storytelling. As we step into 2025, the momentum isn't slowing down. Whether it's groundbreaking queer horror, heartfelt coming-of-age dramas, or unapologetically joyful rom-coms, this year promises an exciting slate of films that celebrate, challenge, and expand LGBTQ+ representation on screen. Here are the must-watch queer movies of 2025! 1. A Nice Indian Boy Instagram: @wayfarerstudios The film stars Karan Soni as Naveen, a socially reserved doctor, and Jonathan Groff as Jay, an artist adopted by Indian parents. The story follows Naveen as he brings his fiancé, Jay, home to meet his traditional Indian family, who must navigate accepting his white, orphaned boyfriend while helping them plan the Indian wedding of their dreams. Even though the movie is not releasing in India, we hope it does because we rarely get to see lighthearted queer romcoms and it would be a delight to watch it on the big screen. 2. Twinless Republic Pictures "Twinless" is starring Dylan O'Brien in dual roles as Roman and his late twin, Rocky. The film explores grief and identity as Roman befriends Dennis (Sweeney) in a twin bereavement support group. It has already been making noise on the internet due to a certain steamy scene shared by Dylan O'Brien and James Sweeney raising the anticipation for the watch. 3. The Housekeeper Instagram: @embankmentfilms A period drama set in the 1930s starring Uma Thurman as Danni, a housekeeper at Mandeville Hall, and Phoebe Dynevor as novelist Daphne Du Maurier. Set in Cornwall, the film explores their forbidden romance and a fictionalized telling of the inspiration behind Du Maurier's classic gothic tale Rebecca. 4. Sabar Bonda Lotus Visual Productions This Marathi romantic drama follows Anand, a city dweller who returns to his ancestral village for his father's funeral and forms a tender bond with Balya, a local farmer. Exploring themes of grief and forbidden love in rural India, it won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. 5. April & Amanda April & Amanda, a new HBO Documentary exploring the contrasting legacies of two icons and their relationships with gender identities, will premiere at @SundanceFest. Streaming soon on @StreamOnMax. #AprilandAmanda — HBO (@HBO) December 11, 2024 Twitter: @HBO The documentary directed by Zackary Drucker, explores the contrasting lives of two transgender pioneers: April Ashley, who embraced her transgender history, and Amanda Lear, who has often obfuscated hers. Their divergent paths reveal intertwined legacies shaped by public scrutiny. 6. The Light Fantastic Instagram: @genesius_pictures This upcoming comedy features Jeremy Irvine as Jason, a gay firefighter aspiring to become a professional ballroom dancer. Inspired by a true story and set in Blackpool, the film follows Jason's journey as he challenges the rigid traditions of the ballroom world under the guidance of his ultra-traditional instructor, Reynolds, portrayed by Rupert Everett. 7. On Swift Horses Sony Pictures Classics A steamy adaption of Shannon Pufahl's 2019 novel of the same name, the movie is set in the 1950s and explores Muriel's (Daisy Edgar-Jones) secret life as a horse race gambler and her romantic involvement with neighbor Sandra (Sasha Calle), while Julius (Jacob Elordi) embarks on a clandestine relationship with Henry (Diego Calva) in Las Vegas. 8. Mother Mary Instagram: @a24 Touted as an epic pop melodrama directed by David Lowery, the movie features Anne Hathaway as a fictional musician and Michaela Coel as an iconic fashion designer. The film explores their complex relationship, set against a vibrant musical backdrop. 9. The Wedding Banquet ShivHans Pictures A remake of Ang Lee's 1993 film featuring Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, and Kelly Marie Tran, the film follows a gay man who agrees to a green-card marriage with his lesbian friend, leading to comedic complications when their parents visit for the wedding. 10. The History of Sound Film4 / Via Set during World War 1, the historical romantic drama stars the internet's favorite boyfriends, Paul Mescal as Lionel and Josh O'Connor as David, and follows the two men as they embark on a journey to record the lives, voices, and music of their American countrymen. Their shared mission leads to a profound and transformative love story. 11. Jimpa Closer Films The film follows Hannah (Olivia Colman) and her non-binary teenager, Frances, who is visiting their father, Jim (John Lithgow), in Amsterdam. Frances wishes to stay with Jim for a year, prompting Hannah to re-evaluate her parenting and confront past family dynamics. The narrative is semi-autobiographical, inspired by the co-writer and director of the film, Sophie Hyde's family experiences. 12. Kiss of the Spider Woman AGC Studios This musical drama features Jennifer Lopez as Ingrid Luna/Aurora, Diego Luna as Valentin Arregui, and Tonatiuh as Luis Molina. Set in 1980s Argentina during the Dirty War, the film intertwines political intrigue with vibrant musical sequences as Tonatiuh, a gay hairdresser, finds himself imprisoned in Argentina after being charged with public indecency. 13. Queens of the Dead IFC Films Directed by Tina Romero, daughter of horror legend George A. Romero, Queens of the Dead is a zombie horror film that follows a group of drag queens and their frenemies who must unite when the undead crash their Brooklyn drag show. The cast includes Katy O'Brian, Margaret Cho, Brigette Lundy-Paine, and Cheyenne Jackson.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Twinless' director James Sweeney was hesitant to talk about his sex scene with Dylan O'Brien. Then it leaked online.
The buzz around Twinless out of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival was so intense, the film had to be pulled from the festival's exclusive streaming website because scenes leaked on TikTok and X. The movie, which won the festival's top audience award, follows two men who meet at a support group for people who have lost a twin. It stars James Sweeney, who also wrote and directed the movie, and Dylan O'Brien, who won the festival's special jury award for acting for his dual role as twins. Sweeney spoke to Yahoo Entertainment on the ground at Sundance, where the film was creating buzz and selling out screenings but hadn't been plagued by piracy yet. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Growing up in an era when Lindsay Lohan's Parent Trap and several movies featuring the Olsen twins dominated pop culture, Sweeney developed a fascination with that extra-close sibling dynamic. He dated an identical twin, and when he started thinking about what it would be like to lose a twin, he thought it was the 'saddest thing I've ever heard.' 'Honestly, if I think about it too much, I will cry. It's such a profound bond,' he said. Sweeney, who also wrote, directed and starred in the 2019 rom-com Straight Up, said there were years when 'everybody in town passed on' Twinless. O'Brien signed on early in the process, though, and 'never doubted it.' Sweeney was hesitant to give much away about O'Brien's role but said the actor filmed each of his twin character scenes separately across different months. He plays both Roman, who Sweeney's character Dennis bonds with in a support group, and Roman's deceased twin, Rocky. As a former child actor who starred in the popular Teen Wolf series and Maze Runner movies but has since become a Sundance regular, O'Brien has a dedicated online fanbase that broke past the film's secretive festival promotion and may have contributed toward the leak of his Twinless scenes. Lauren Graham plays Roman and Rocky's mom, who spends much of the film grieving. Sweeney, a big Gilmore Girls fan, said he was 'reticent' about reaching out to her at first. 'I was like, 'Is she going to think I'm a lunatic?'' he joked. 'I think she's such a wonderful actress ... and I have so much respect for her.' On the red carpet for the Twinless premiere, Graham repeatedly spoke about how thrilled she was to be able to take on a darker role because she never gets opportunities like this. Another nugget from his childhood that Sweeney put into the movie was a reference to the life simulator computer game The Sims. Dennis and Roman dress as the video game characters for a costume party. 'I'd lose days of my life to The Sims,' Sweeney said. 'You get to build your own world. It ties into Dennis constructing these fantasies.' Sweeney added that originally, the script called for a reference to a Nintendo game involving twins, but they couldn't clear it after months of trying. It was a blessing in disguise, though, because so many people have fond childhood memories of playing The Sims, including O'Brien, who told Yahoo Entertainment on the Twinless red carpet that he loved cheating the game to get more money and deleting the bed out from under Sims who were getting naked. 'I was somebody who just really wanted to get promoted and focused too much on the skills and not enough on the relationships,' Sweeney said, laughing. 'I feel like that's something I need to explore in therapy.' He was hesitant to talk about the sex scene in the movie, but less than a week after the interview, it leaked online. The scene involves Sweeney, who directed himself, and O'Brien. 'It helped that it was such a comfortable set. I think ultimately I had to shove down the personal, bodily, actorly insecurities and take control as a director,' he said. 'This services the movie, and this is what I need to do, so I need to compartmentalize those emotions.' At its premiere, Twinless drew a lot of laughs and made a lot of people physically cringe. There's a twist Sweeney didn't want to discuss because he wants the film to have 'a full life' in theaters. He hopes people are 'a lot more curious after they've seen it versus going into it.' One thing he was eager to share, though, was that the film cast real-life twins as the background talent in support group scenes. Local casting agencies put out fliers seeking them out. Sweeney himself started seeing twins everywhere. 'I had just come back from scouting a location ... to the Airbnb where I was staying, and I was looking around, and I thought, 'Are those twins?'' he said, then walked up to the pair. 'I was like, 'Hi, excuse me, are you twins? ... I'm directing a movie and we're looking for twins.'' They said they already knew about him and his movie — they'd seen the flier. One was too busy to film, but the other ended up joining the cast. Ever guarded, Sweeney wouldn't say what's next for him. 'It's not real until it's happening and I don't want to jinx it,' he said. 'I want to do another rom-com, and I'd love to do a legal thriller drama. I think I'd be a lawyer in a different life. ... Maybe it's not even directing. Maybe I'll just play a lawyer on [Law & Order:] SVU.' Twinless has not yet announced plans for distribution.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Twinless' director James Sweeney was hesitant to talk about his sex scene with Dylan O'Brien. Then it leaked online.
The buzz around Twinless out of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival was so intense, the film had to be pulled from the festival's exclusive streaming website because scenes leaked on TikTok and X. The movie, which won the festival's top audience award, follows two men who meet at a support group for people who have lost a twin. It stars James Sweeney, who also wrote and directed the movie, and Dylan O'Brien, who won the festival's special jury award for acting for his dual role as twins. Sweeney spoke to Yahoo Entertainment on the ground at Sundance, where the film was creating buzz and selling out screenings but hadn't been plagued by piracy yet. Growing up in an era when Lindsay Lohan's Parent Trap and several movies featuring the Olsen twins dominated pop culture, Sweeney developed a fascination with that extra-close sibling dynamic. He dated an identical twin, and when he started thinking about what it would be like to lose a twin, he thought it was the 'saddest thing I've ever heard.' 'Honestly, if I think about it too much, I will cry. It's such a profound bond,' he said. Sweeney, who also wrote, directed and starred in the 2019 rom-com Straight Up, said there were years when 'everybody in town passed on' Twinless. O'Brien signed on early in the process, though, and 'never doubted it.' Sweeney was hesitant to give much away about O'Brien's role but said the actor filmed each of his twin character scenes separately across different months. He plays both Roman, who Sweeney's character Dennis bonds with in a support group, and Roman's deceased twin, Rocky. As a former child actor who starred in the popular Teen Wolf series and Maze Runner movies but has since become a Sundance regular, O'Brien has a dedicated online fanbase that broke past the film's secretive festival promotion and may have contributed toward the leak of his Twinless scenes. Lauren Graham plays Roman and Rocky's mom, who spends much of the film grieving. Sweeney, a big Gilmore Girls fan, said he was 'reticent' about reaching out to her at first. 'I was like, 'Is she going to think I'm a lunatic?'' he joked. 'I think she's such a wonderful actress ... and I have so much respect for her.' On the red carpet for the Twinless premiere, Graham repeatedly spoke about how thrilled she was to be able to take on a darker role because she never gets opportunities like this. Another nugget from his childhood that Sweeney put into the movie was a reference to the life simulator computer game The Sims. Dennis and Roman dress as the video game characters for a costume party. 'I'd lose days of my life to The Sims,' Sweeney said. 'You get to build your own world. It ties into Dennis constructing these fantasies.' Sweeney added that originally, the script called for a reference to a Nintendo game involving twins, but they couldn't clear it after months of trying. It was a blessing in disguise, though, because so many people have fond childhood memories of playing The Sims, including O'Brien, who told Yahoo Entertainment on the Twinless red carpet that he loved cheating the game to get more money and deleting the bed out from under Sims who were getting naked. 'I was somebody who just really wanted to get promoted and focused too much on the skills and not enough on the relationships,' Sweeney said, laughing. 'I feel like that's something I need to explore in therapy.' He was hesitant to talk about the sex scene in the movie, but less than a week after the interview, it leaked online. The scene involves Sweeney, who directed himself, and O'Brien. 'It helped that it was such a comfortable set. I think ultimately I had to shove down the personal, bodily, actorly insecurities and take control as a director,' he said. 'This services the movie, and this is what I need to do, so I need to compartmentalize those emotions.' At its premiere, Twinless drew a lot of laughs and made a lot of people physically cringe. There's a twist Sweeney didn't want to discuss because he wants the film to have 'a full life' in theaters. He hopes people are 'a lot more curious after they've seen it versus going into it.' One thing he was eager to share, though, was that the film cast real-life twins as the background talent in support group scenes. Local casting agencies put out fliers seeking them out. Sweeney himself started seeing twins everywhere. 'I had just come back from scouting a location ... to the Airbnb where I was staying, and I was looking around, and I thought, 'Are those twins?'' he said, then walked up to the pair. 'I was like, 'Hi, excuse me, are you twins? ... I'm directing a movie and we're looking for twins.'' They said they already knew about him and his movie — they'd seen the flier. One was too busy to film, but the other ended up joining the cast. Ever guarded, Sweeney wouldn't say what's next for him. 'It's not real until it's happening and I don't want to jinx it,' he said. 'I want to do another rom-com, and I'd love to do a legal thriller drama. I think I'd be a lawyer in a different life. ... Maybe it's not even directing. Maybe I'll just play a lawyer on [Law & Order:] SVU.' Twinless has not yet announced plans for distribution.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
James Sweeney 'Twinless': Sundance List 2025
Sundance audiences love films that catch them off guard, and Twinless does just that. James Sweeney's latest feature—his long-awaited follow-up to Straight Up—begins as a sharp-witted indie about grief and human connection. As it unfolds, it transforms into something far more unexpected: a darkly funny, psychologically intricate thriller that defies convention. Premiering to an electrified Sundance crowd, Twinless showcases Dylan O'Brien in a mesmerizing dual performance, with Sweeney himself portraying a man whose grief pulls him into murky, unsettling territory. Infused with razor-sharp humor, raw emotion, and twists that leave audiences reeling, Twinless cements Sweeney as one of the most daring and distinctive filmmakers in this year's Sundance lineup. Before the festival, we sat down with him to talk about the film, his creative process, and what's next. Watch the full interview below or here.Q: Where are you from?A: I'm from Alaska, primarily. I moved around a bit because I'm a military brat.Q: What is the most Alaskan thing about yourself?A: I refer to this as the Lower 48.Q: Are you a Sundance virgin?A: Yes. I mean, I've applied to Sundance many times. I mean, finally being at Sundance after a decade of trying to get through, it feels like comeuppance. No, but it's really wonderful. I'm really grateful and excited. Q: What's the buzz about your movie?A: There are twins in it, and Dylan O'Brien is phenomenal.Q: Can you describe your character in Twinless?A: I play Dennis, who is a graphic designer who lives in Portland, and he is very lonely.Q: What do you have in common with Dennis?A: We're the same size. We actually wore some of my wardrobe. I'm also at times lonely. And I'm a twin. Not identical though.Q: Did you always plan to play Dennis?A: I guess when I wrote the movie on some level, I was hoping to play Dennis, but I think I was more interested in getting the movie made, so I never made anyone do it, but somehow here I am. I had a really supportive producer who saw my first film and liked it, which I also star in, and he's like, 'Do it again!' And I did.Q: How long did it take to make ?A: I wrote the first draft in 2015. It is, oh, it's now 2025, so it's taken 10 years.Q: Why did you shoot on film?A: I think shooting on film was about process. There's something organic and even a bit nostalgic, but I think it kind of changed the way we worked because you only have so much film, and I think it just makes everybody a little bit more conscientious with their time, which I think is the most integral part of filmmaking.Q: Were all the actors in the support group scene twins?A: So all the actors, even the background talent in the support group scene, are played by real twin actors, which was a fun casting challenge to do. But also a little difficult because some people didn't want to, because they didn't want to have to imagine their twin being dead. But we made them do it anyway.Q: What was your collaboration like with your cinematographer?A: My cinematographer, I met freshman year of film school and we've been shooting together ever since. So I'd say, yeah, he and I have… I don't know, what does bromance mean? Q: What is your approach to genre in filmmaking?A: The real genre of life is multifaceted, and there is humor, and there is heartbreak, and I don't think you can have one without the other. I think it's all just different notes in a song.Q: How do you deal with grief in Twinless?A: Well, I don't think that grief is a straight line, so I think sometimes it's two steps forward, one step back. But I also think it's very much unique to the individual. One of the big themes of Twinless is forgiveness, and I think that has much to do with forgiveness of yourself as much as it is for other people. And I think it's one of the most beautiful things that makes us human.Q: What was your first creative inspiration?A: Well, the most seminal piece of work of art for me was Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And I stand by that.Q: How obsessed are you with Buffy?A: I own the box set of all seven seasons. I've seen all 144 episodes multiple times. It's the only show where I know episodes by the title of them. And I think it really instigated my care over how important a title is. Q: What was your first acting experience?A: I played the chair in a regional production of Beauty and the Beast. And I did have lines. I know it sounds like you're just a chair, but I was in all black and I just pushed the chair around. But I think I, actually I don't know if it was a musical or not, but if it was, I think I had a solo.Q: Have you had any 'normal' jobs?A: My first job, I was a cashier at Walmart. My second, I was an employee at Cold Stone and I sang for tips. I've been a telemarketer. I thought about keeping the high-net-worth subscriptions that I was selling subscriptions to the Pasadena and Geffen Playhouse. I'm like, oh, these are patrons of the art. I should call them when I'm raising money for my first feature. I didn't do that, but I felt like a breach of ethics. I'm a good person. Q: What's your most LA story?A: I was an overnight guest at the Gamble House courtesy of a USC architecture student. I hope I'm allowed to say this. We were very respectful of the space. And I cooked salmon and Israeli couscous in the kitchen. And yeah, it was a beautiful night.Q: Where do you want Twinless to go after Sundance?A: Theaters. My favorite thing to do is to go to the movies. And Twinless, it's a comedy. I know it sounds like it's not based on the logline, but, yeah, I think it's best enjoyed with people who know nothing about it and are just there to turn off their phone and watch a movie.Q: What's next for you?A: Jury duty. I literally come back from Sundance and then I go to jury duty.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Twinless' director James Sweeney was hesitant to talk about his sex scene with Dylan O'Brien. Then it leaked online.
The buzz around Twinless out of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival was so intense, the film had to be pulled from the festival's exclusive streaming website because scenes leaked on TikTok and X. The movie, which won the festival's top audience award, follows two men who meet at a support group for people who have lost a twin. It stars James Sweeney, who also wrote and directed the movie, and Dylan O'Brien, who won the festival's special jury award for acting for his dual role as twins. Sweeney spoke to Yahoo Entertainment on the ground at Sundance, where the film was creating buzz and selling out screenings but hadn't been plagued by piracy yet. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Growing up in an era when Lindsay Lohan's Parent Trap and several movies featuring the Olsen twins dominated pop culture, Sweeney developed a fascination with that extra-close sibling dynamic. He dated an identical twin, and when he started thinking about what it would be like to lose a twin, he thought it was the 'saddest thing I've ever heard.' 'Honestly, if I think about it too much, I will cry. It's such a profound bond,' he said. Sweeney, who also wrote, directed and starred in the 2019 rom-com Straight Up, said there were years when 'everybody in town passed on' Twinless. O'Brien signed on early in the process, though, and 'never doubted it.' Sweeney was hesitant to give much away about O'Brien's role but said the actor filmed each of his twin character scenes separately across different months. He plays both Roman, who Sweeney's character Dennis bonds with in a support group, and Roman's deceased twin, Rocky. As a former child actor who starred in the popular Teen Wolf series and Maze Runner movies but has since become a Sundance regular, O'Brien has a dedicated online fanbase that broke past the film's secretive festival promotion and may have contributed toward the leak of his Twinless scenes. Lauren Graham plays Roman and Rocky's mom, who spends much of the film grieving. Sweeney, a big Gilmore Girls fan, said he was 'reticent' about reaching out to her at first. 'I was like, 'Is she going to think I'm a lunatic?'' he joked. 'I think she's such a wonderful actress ... and I have so much respect for her.' On the red carpet for the Twinless premiere, Graham repeatedly spoke about how thrilled she was to be able to take on a darker role because she never gets opportunities like this. Another nugget from his childhood that Sweeney put into the movie was a reference to the life simulator computer game The Sims. Dennis and Roman dress as the video game characters for a costume party. 'I'd lose days of my life to The Sims,' Sweeney said. 'You get to build your own world. It ties into Dennis constructing these fantasies.' Sweeney added that originally, the script called for a reference to a Nintendo game involving twins, but they couldn't clear it after months of trying. It was a blessing in disguise, though, because so many people have fond childhood memories of playing The Sims, including O'Brien, who told Yahoo Entertainment on the Twinless red carpet that he loved cheating the game to get more money and deleting the bed out from under Sims who were getting naked. 'I was somebody who just really wanted to get promoted and focused too much on the skills and not enough on the relationships,' Sweeney said, laughing. 'I feel like that's something I need to explore in therapy.' He was hesitant to talk about the sex scene in the movie, but less than a week after the interview, it leaked online. The scene involves Sweeney, who directed himself, and O'Brien. 'It helped that it was such a comfortable set. I think ultimately I had to shove down the personal, bodily, actorly insecurities and take control as a director,' he said. 'This services the movie, and this is what I need to do, so I need to compartmentalize those emotions.' At its premiere, Twinless drew a lot of laughs and made a lot of people physically cringe. There's a twist Sweeney didn't want to discuss because he wants the film to have 'a full life' in theaters. He hopes people are 'a lot more curious after they've seen it versus going into it.' One thing he was eager to share, though, was that the film cast real-life twins as the background talent in support group scenes. Local casting agencies put out fliers seeking them out. Sweeney himself started seeing twins everywhere. 'I had just come back from scouting a location ... to the Airbnb where I was staying, and I was looking around, and I thought, 'Are those twins?'' he said, then walked up to the pair. 'I was like, 'Hi, excuse me, are you twins? ... I'm directing a movie and we're looking for twins.'' They said they already knew about him and his movie — they'd seen the flier. One was too busy to film, but the other ended up joining the cast. Ever guarded, Sweeney wouldn't say what's next for him. 'It's not real until it's happening and I don't want to jinx it,' he said. 'I want to do another rom-com, and I'd love to do a legal thriller drama. I think I'd be a lawyer in a different life. ... Maybe it's not even directing. Maybe I'll just play a lawyer on [Law & Order:] SVU.' Twinless has not yet announced plans for distribution.
