Jonathan Bennett is best known for his role as Aaron Samuels. Mean Girlshe says of his upcoming trilogy of films. Groomsmen, Featured It’s the first Hallmark Channel movie to have a gay-centric main storyline.
Bennett, 43, people He will play the role of Danny in the film and will star alongside Tyler Hines and BJ Britt, who have previously appeared in other Hallmark Channel films.
“The role of Danny Groomsmen — “Not only are we telling a story of friendship and love, but we’re also telling a story about a wedding,” he said in an interview at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25.
“This is the first time we’ve had a same-sex wedding as a main storyline on Hallmark,” Bennett said, “and it’s a huge step forward for the gay community to be able to see themselves represented in these stories.”
According to Hallmark, the film “depicts the lives and relationships of three best friends from different backgrounds, cultures and sexual orientations as they find love and marital bliss in beautiful locations across Greece, Italy and Bulgaria.”
Bennett’s Danny is described as a “kind-hearted former sportsman”, Britt’s Pete is a “smart and compassionate paediatrician” and Hines’ Jackson is a “stylish and charming social media agent”.
“I got to film my character Danny’s storyline in Greece,” Bennett said. “The cliff jumping scenes with myself, Tyler Hines and BJ Britt in Santorini were literally a scene from paradise. Filming a gay love story in Santorini for the Hallmark Channel was a dream come true.”
“It’s everything we love: we love travel, we love friendship, we love romance, we love Greece,” he continued. “So it all combined in my film and it was a huge success.”
Bennett has previously played lead and supporting roles as straight characters in Hallmark movies, and a secondary storyline in a Hallmark film as the gay brother of a man with a lover. Christmas House (At the time, the film was advertised as the channel’s first “gay” film, even though its main story was a romantic adventure between straight brothers.)
of However, The Groomsmen appears to be the first film in the series to feature a gay protagonist, or at least one of several storylines within a film trilogy, each of which carries equal weight and importance.
The idea that the Hallmark Channel would allow gay storylines would have been unthinkable a few years ago.
In 2019, the network infamously pulled an advert depicting a lesbian wedding from the air at the urging of social conservatives and threats of a boycott, only to later reverse course.
Right-wing activist groups also circulated a petition calling on the channel to promise not to include LGBTQ-identified characters in Hallmark movies, even in supporting or bit roles.
The following year, then-CEO of Crown Media Family Networks Bill Abbott expressed openness to including LGBTQ characters and depictions of same-sex relationships in his films after some viewers criticized the lack of diversity in casting and storylines, both in terms of racial and religious minorities and non-traditional families.
Unfortunately, the decision to expand the cast and write more diverse characters into the film has led to the channel’s more politically conservative starand Abbott himself. Jumpship On the Great American Family Channel, It was pitched as a haven for conservative viewers. People who want to see storylines on screen that promote the values of (preferably Christian) faith and upholding traditional family structures.
Bennett — He will also host Hallmark’s first reality TV competition series. Looking for Mr Christmasis scheduled to premiere later this year. In an Instagram post earlier this month, he said he was “honored to be able to create a meaningful story.”
“I hope that when you look at these stories, you find something that resonates with you, that has meaning to you,” he said. I have written“That’s our why, why we do what we do. And of course, we have a bit of fun in the process.”
“The Groomsmen” movie will premiere on Hallmark+ this fall.
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
