Jordan Firstman, whose directorial debut "Club Kid" was recently acquired by A24 for a November release, is set to lead the English-language voice cast for the acclaimed animated feature "Jim Queen."
An exclusive first clip of the film, revealed by Variety, showcases his involvement:
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Directed by Marco Nguyen and Nicolas Athané, this animated comedy captivated audiences and critics alike at its Cannes premiere. Variety's Guy Lodge lauded it as "a hilarious rare shot of broad comedy that plays like a queer ‘South Park’ on literal steroids.” Firstman's "Club Kid," which he also starred in, wrote, and produced, similarly generated significant buzz at Cannes, leading to a competitive bidding war.
Firstman's busy schedule also includes ongoing production for Season 2 of HBO's "I Love LA," alongside recent roles in FX’s “English Teacher” and Mubi’s “Rotting in the Sun.”
The impressive voice cast also features Mateo Lane, currently engaged in his third international stand-up tour, "We Gotta Catch Up!" Lane recently made his Broadway debut as Billy Flynn in "Chicago." Rounding out the ensemble are notable talents such as Nicole Byer ("Nailed It!"), John Cameron Mitchell ("Hedwig and the Angry Inch"), Bob the Drag Queen ("We’re Here," "RuPaul’s Drag Race"), and Wendie Malick ("Shrinking").
M’saada Nia and Wolfie Trausch are overseeing the English-language casting and recording, with Moby and Lindsay Hick’s Little Walnut co-producing the English version alongside Bobbypills.
Global Constellation is currently presenting private screenings of the English-language version, complete with its U.S. voice cast, to North American buyers at TIFF, as U.S. distribution rights remain in active negotiation.
After its highly anticipated Cannes premiere – which festival director Thierry Frémaux likened to the memorable atmosphere of "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" – "Jim Queen" launched in French theaters on June 17 via The Jokers Films. It debuted impressively at #3 at the box office, trailing only "Toy Story 5" and "Backrooms." The film has since amassed nearly 400,000 admissions and $3 million at the French box office and is slated for theatrical release in over 25 international territories. U.S. distribution rights are still available and under negotiation.
Produced by David Alric (Bobbypills founder) and Arthur Delabays, "Jim Queen" plunges into a Parisian gay scene rocked by "Heterosis," a mysterious virus that turns gay men straight. The story follows Jim, once the celebrated sovereign of the Gym Queens, as he becomes a social outcast. Aided only by Lucien, a newly out twink, Jim races against time to find a cure before his community is irrevocably altered.
Co-written by Simon Balteaux and Brice Chevillard, "Jim Queen" is a product of Bobbypills, a prominent European adult animation studio known for projects like James Gunn’s "Creature Commandos" for DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation. Bobbypills' portfolio also includes Netflix's "Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix" (with Ubisoft Film & Television), and the adult animated series "Crisis Jung" and "Vermin," also on Netflix.
Co-writer Simon Balteaux previously shared with Variety his insights into the film's themes: "Gay guys are obsessed with the way we look. It can be tough in this world, because you have to be in shape and you have to be young. I’m 43, and guys look at me differently." He added, "I used to be a Gym Queen myself. Now, I’m going to be a Daddy. It’s the next step, so I’m making fun of myself too. Although I’ll still go to the gym tomorrow.”
Director Marco Nguyen further elaborated on the film's social commentary: "There’s a lot of toxic masculinity in the gay community, too. You think it’s enough to say you’re gay, only to realize you don’t fit the standards because you weigh too much. It was very liberating to write this, and to write these jokes, because we talked about what we’ve experienced.”
Umedia ("The Count of Monte Cristo," "Night of the Zoopocalypse") co-produced the film. Executive producers include Moby and Lindsay Hicks for Little Walnut (U.S.), Katarzyna Janiak and Jacek Świgost for Timeless Studios, Arthur Cohen for Momentum Entertainment, and Fabien Westerhoff for Global Constellation.
Balteaux concluded, "I guess we made a political film, but it’s also because laughter can be a weapon." He emphasized the film's broader impact: "We’re very lucky – we live in a country where ‘Jim Queen’ could be made. But we still think of those in Senegal and trans people, also in the U.S. Maybe it will lighten their reality a little.”
