San Francisco’s history is inseparably intertwined with queer culture. From gay rights icon Harvey Milk’s election – and devastating assasination – through to last year’s recognition of the city’s gay and leather cultural district, San Fran has always been a vibrant LGBTQ+ haven.
Now Netflix has released the trailer for its new series set in the Californian city, a follow-up to Armistead Maupin’s long-running Tales of the City. The author’s novels were first adapted into a TV series in the early 90s, with some of the original cast set to reprise their roles in the upcoming sequel.
In the newly released trailer we see Laura Linney return to San Francisco as protagonist Mary Ann Singleton, reuniting with old friends and family, including her eccentric ex-landlady Anna Madrigal (reprised by Olympia Dukakis).
“When I first got off the bus years ago,” Linney narrates, “I had the strangest feeling that I’d come home.” Having left 20 years earlier to pursue her career, Mary Ann emotionally returns to her old boarding house at 28 Barbary Lane to rejoin her chosen family and daughter Shawna (Ellen Page).
The tear-jerking trailer takes us through a whirlwind of sequins, bondage, and tight-knit friendships, as we’re introduced to the new, diverse residents of the show’s dynamic world. New cast members include RuPaul’s Drag Race season eight winner Bob the Drag Queen, and Russian Doll’s Charlie Barnett, while Paul Gross returns to his role as Mary Ann’s ex-husband, Brian Hawkins.
Spotlighting the LGBTQ+ community both on- and off-screen, the show has an entirely queer writing team, as well as LGBTQ+ producers and directors, and is set to premiere on June 7.
The feel-good show follows Netflix’s vital, complex portrayal of queer teenhood in Sex Education, offering more refreshing and much-needed LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream television.
Watch the trailer below.
