THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

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Cruise Polishes Up a New Birdcage

After his very public corporate breakup with Viacom chief Sumner Redstone, the ever-resourceful Tom Cruise landed on his feet and nabbed a gig as one of the heads of the newly resuscitated United Artists. And since one of that studio's biggest recent hits was The Birdcage, the remake of the French farce La Cage aux Folles, it's no surprise that part of Cruise's slate at UA is The Birdcage 2. No word whether or not Robin Williams and Nathan Lane will reprise their roles from the 1996 comedy, or if director Mike Nichols wants another go-round at the wacky misadventures of a gay Miami nightclub owner and his temperamental, cross-dressing star attraction and life partner. But at least now Cruise's contributions to queer cinema will go beyond Top Gun.

Perry and Swank Line Up for Craig Lucas

Gay playwright ( Reckless, Prelude to a Kiss ) and screenwriter ( Longtime Companion ) Craig Lucas had his filmmaking debut with the twisted Hollywood tale The Dying Gaul, but he's not finished with life behind the camera. Hilary Swank is producing and playing a small role in Lucas' Laws of Motion, which begins shooting this summer. Matthew Perry and Justin Long ( the young star of those cutesy 'I'm a Mac' ads ) pair up in this comedy about three dysfunctional sibs—an uptight professor, a promiscuous woman, and their flaky kid brother—discovering that, despite their differences, they need each other after all. ( Swank plays Perry's relatively sane neighbor. ) Look for what promises to be a hilarious family portrait to make its neurotic way into theaters in 2008.

Peter Krause Will Be Dirty Sexy

The delicious Krause, who made being a commitment-phobic undertaker look like the steamiest gig on earth, returns this fall on ABC's Dirty Sexy Money, from gay producer Greg Berlanti ( Everwood, Brothers & Sisters ) . Sexy stars Krause as a lawyer trying to investigate his father's death, while at the same time taking over dear departed daddy's gig as attorney to the rich, powerful, and secretive Darling family. The show also stars Donald Sutherland, and nobody plays rich, powerful, and secretive better than he does. Sounds like the show will offer shocks, scandals...and Krause wearing some non-black suits for a change.

Sundance To Air Red Without Blue

What happens to the bond between identical twin brothers when one of them begins transitioning to female? That's the premise of the acclaimed new documentary Red Without Blue, which will premiere June 25 on the Sundance Channel, the network that previously brought us Transgeneration. Mark and Alex grew up as all-American boys, but their life has been anything but. By the time they turned 14, their parents had divorced and both siblings had come out as gay, and later they were forcibly separated after a joint suicide attempt. But things really get complicated when Alex becomes Clair, and the two attempt to continue their unique bond despite the upheavals in their lives. An award winner at Slamdance and the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Red Without Blue is sure to leave a lasting impression on cable-ready audiences everywhere.

Romeo San Vicente occasionally wears an eye patch in an attempt to pass himself off as his own evil twin, Rubio San Vicente. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com .