Queer as Folk (2022 TV series)

Queer as Folk (Peacock TV series)

Company type	Television series
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	June 9, 2022 (2022-06-09)
Founder	Stephen Dunn (developer)
Headquarters	New Orleans , United States
Area served	United States, Australia, Canada, UK, continental Europe, Latin America
Products	Television drama series

Queer as Folk is a dramatic television series developed for Peacock by Stephen Dunn. This show serves as a contemporary reinterpretation of the Channel 4 1999 British series Queer as Folk, originally created by Russell T. Davies. The series debuted on June 9, 2022, but was discontinued after a single season on September 23, 2022, due to underwhelming viewership.

Premise

Set against the backdrop of New Orleans, the storyline centers on a multifaceted group of friends whose lives are irrevocably changed following a shooting incident at the queer nightclub Babylon. The plot delves into complex themes such as emotional vulnerability, substance dependency, mourning, and interpersonal relationships.

Main

• Fin Argus portrays Mingus – a non-binary high schooler and aspiring drag queen who was performing at Babylon during the shooting. After being rescued by Brodie, Mingus develops romantic feelings toward him.
• Candace Grace (CG) plays Shar – Ruthie's partner who gives birth to twins on the night of the shooting. Brodie is the sperm donor despite Shar's initial hesitations. Shar uses they/them pronouns and prefers the parental title "Zaddy."
• Jesse James Keitel appears as Ruthie O'Neil – Shar’s partner and longtime friend of Brodie. Ruthie is a transgender woman and teaches English at Mingus’s high school.
• Ryan O'Connell takes on the role of Julian Beaumont – Brodie’s brother whose sexual orientation comes to light following an arrest for public sexual conduct.
• Johnny Sibilly plays Noah Hernandez – Brodie’s former boyfriend and an attorney dealing with grief and addiction after the death of his secret lover Daddius in the Babylon shooting. Noah hosts the event Ghost Fag at his residence.
• Devin Way is Brodie Beaumont – the central character who leaves medical school to return to New Orleans. He faces challenges reconnecting with Noah and others while recovering from a gunshot wound sustained while protecting Mingus. Brodie is also the biological father of Shar and Ruthie’s twins.

Recurring

• Kim Cattrall portrays Brenda Beaumont, the eccentric mother of Brodie and Julian.
• Juliette Lewis appears as Judy, Mingus’s free-spirited mother.
• Ed Begley Jr. plays Winston Beaumont, affluent husband to Brenda and father of Brodie and Julian.
• Armand Fields is Bussey, an LGBTQ+ community leader and drag performer who organizes events at Babylon and later Ghost Fag.
• Chris Renfro appears as Daddius Miller, Brodie’s best friend and Noah’s secret lover who was killed during the Babylon shooting.
• Eric Graise portrays Marvin, a nightlife accessibility advocate who meets Brodie and Mingus during the shooting; he uses survivor funds to pay for services from Ali and forms a mutual bond with them.
• Sachin Bhatt plays Ali, a sex worker hired by Marvin who develops a connection with him.
• Benito Skinner features as Jack Cole Jordan.

Guest

• Brandon Gilpin as Jake, Mingus’s closest friend
• Nyle DiMarco as Leo, sex worker hired by Brodie for Julian
• Big Freedia appearing as themselves / guest at Babylon party
• Lukas Gage in the role of Eric
• Megan Stalter as Meg
• Olli Haaskivi portraying George
• Calvin Seabrooks as Taylor
• Cameron Hathcock playing Mark

Development

Bravo revealed plans for a Queer as Folk reboot in December 2018, with Stephen Dunn attached as writer and director, and Russell T. Davies serving as executive producer. By August 2019, the project transitioned to Peacock, which officially commissioned the series in April 2021.

Dunn chose to draw inspiration exclusively from Davies' original UK version, intentionally setting aside the Showtime adaptation. He coordinated a predominantly LGBTQ+ writing team working remotely from Newfoundland amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the series targeted a specific audience, it was cancelled after one season in September 2022 due to insufficient viewership.

Casting

Jesse James Keitel was confirmed as a series regular in August 2021. The following month, Candace Grace, Johnny Sibilly, Devin Way, Fin Argus, and Ryan O’Connell were also announced as regular cast members. Kim Cattrall joined the cast in a recurring capacity in November 2021. December saw additions including Juliette Lewis, Ed Begley Jr., Armand Fields, Chris Renfro, Eric Graise, Sachin Bhatt, and Benito Skinner in recurring roles. Guest appearances by Lukas Gage, Megan Stalter, Olli Haaskivi, and Calvin Seabrooks were disclosed in March 2022.

Filming

Principal photography commenced by October 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Release

The series debuted on Peacock on June 9, 2022. In Australia, it became available on Stan starting June 10, 2022. Canadian audiences gained access on June 26, 2022, through Showcase, facilitated by Corus Entertainment’s agreement with NBCUniversal for Peacock originals. Starzplay secured distribution rights across the UK, continental Europe, and Latin America; the UK premiere occurred July 1, 2022, with other territories receiving it on July 31, 2022.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the show holds an 80% approval rating from critics with an average score of 7.6/10 based on twenty reviews. Reviewers commended its diverse casting and relevance to contemporary culture; The Guardian specifically noted its broad inclusivity regarding race, gender identity, sexuality, and disability. Conversely, audience feedback was less positive, reflected by a 44% approval rating. Metacritic assigned a mixed score of 53 out of 100 based on eight critical reviews.

Despite favorable critical commentary, the series was discontinued after one season. Some reviewers and viewers found the reboot lacking in engagement; The Times described it as feeling "worn-out" and repetitive compared to the original’s "edgy and compelling" nature. Vanity Fair criticized its emphasis on tragic elements as detracting from the show’s core spirit. Additionally, some found the characters unrelatable; The Boston Globe characterized them as self-centered and lacking sufficient complexity or warmth to connect effectively with audiences.