Q: What’s up with the sequel to Another Gay Movie? – Marcus, Los Angeles, CA

A: The uber-raunchy Another Gay Movie (2006), about four gay teens each trying to lose their virginity, wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I think the concept (“a gay teen sex comedy!”) was inspired, and the film definitely had its moments. Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild, with the four boys traveling to Fort Lauderdale for spring break, will be out August 15^th.

But, interestingly, three of the movie’s four central characters have been recast with different actors since the first movie.

Writer-director Todd Stephens tells the Monkey that he originally intended to bring all four actors back. “One we knew couldn’t come back, but two were on board until the last minute,” he says. “They dropped out two days before preproduction began. I don’t fully understand the reasons, but basically it has to do with agents and managers telling the actors they shouldn’t play gay more than once, or people might start questioning their sexuality. It’s sad that people are still concerned about this. And it’s upsetting, because both those guys were my friends. It’s confusing and sad for me.”

Director Todd Stephens (center) flanked by
original cast of Another Gay Movie

Still, Stephens says, everything seems to have worked out for a reason. While the first movie centered on the character of Andy, Stephens says he always intended the sequel to be told more from the point-of-view of Nico, played by Jonah Blechman, the one returning cast member.

“The characters have evolved a bit,” Stephens says. “But I’m very, very happy the way it worked out.”

Look for the movie to deal with the casting changes right at the beginning of the movie — in a humorous way, of course.

Also be on the lookout for RuPaul and a returning Scott Thompson, not to mention various porn stars (Michael Lucas, Colton Ford, and Brent Corrigan as an actual merman).

“I believe in casting the best people to play a given part,” Stephens said. “I find it sad that people won’t hire porn actors for legitimate work.” That said, he admits he doesn’t mind the added publicity that comes from the porn stars’ notoriety.

Q: Waaaaay too much has already been written about Daniel Radcliffe’s privates, but I really am curious: how will they keep people from taking pictures of him when he appears naked in Equus, starting this fall on Broadway? He’s 18 now, so presumably those photos could be posted online. – Brad – New York, NY

A: In the endless discussions of Harry Potter’s penis, what’s been lost is the fact that Equus is, in my opinion, one of the greatest plays ever written: by turns, shocking, challenging, touching, and ultimately cathartic. It’s great to see the play get all this new attention, even if it’s for all the wrong reasons.

But you’re right: in the U.K. production, people were definitely sneaking cameras into the theater to capture Radcliffe in the buff. So this time around, they’re taking stronger precautions. There will be a ban on cameras (as there was in the U.K.), but this time audience members will actually be searched, and theater operators will be scanning the crowd with infrared cameras to catch anyone who might be breaking the rules.

Q: Has Neil Patrick Harris been working out?-- Leslie, Montreal, Canada

A: Um, I think so! Compare these photos, one from last fall (left) and one from a recent episode of How I Met Your Mother (right):

I think we know what someone did with their time during the writers’ strike!

Truthfully, this saddens me a little. I think I prefer nerdy, bookish character-actor Neil (see his maniacal, unsettling performance in Stormship Troopers [1997]) to LA gym-toned, budding-leading-actor Neil. But I guess the guy’s gotta eat.

Harris in Stormship Troopers

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