Billy Eichner And Judd Apatow Preparing LGBT Rom-Com

It looks like Billy Eichner will have to carve some extra time out of his busy schedule of running up to strangers on the street with flustered celebrities in tow. (If you’re unfamiliar with his comedy series Billy On The Street, get thee to YouTube{ =nofollow}.) Not only is the actor-comedian lending his voice to Timon in Jon Favreau’s Lion King later this year, but he’s also going to co-write and star in a mainstream LGBT rom-com produced by Judd Apatow.

The project, which is currently untitled, will be directed by Nick Stoller, who helmed Apatow films Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek, as well as both Bad Neighbours films. Stoller will be co-writing the script with Eichner, and the film will be released by Universal. Whatever it ends up being titled, according to Deadline it will focus on “two men who have commitment problems and are attempting a relationship”. Eichner, who’s openly gay, Tweeted about the announcement, writing: “Excited, terrified, completely in shock and PROUD as hell to announce this movie. We’re making a big, new romantic comedy for Universal!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!”

Considering how much of a surprising milestone last year’s Love, Simon proved to be as a mainstream, upbeat gay love story, this looks set to continue Hollywood studios' recent willingness to present LGBT stories to wide audiences – and given Apatow’s propensity for balancing crudeness and sweetness in equal abundance and Eichner’s hilarious screen persona, this should be something special. Plus, it’s further evidence that the rom-com could be making a comeback, hot off the heels of Crazy Rich Asians, Love, Simon, and Paul Feig’s upcoming Last Christmas. Stay tuned for more info when the project rolls further into development.

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