Fire Island - What We Know So Far
Filmmaker Andrew Ahn's debut as a director was the 2016 drama "Spa Night." Joe Seo — who would later portray Kyler in the "Karate Kid" sequel series "Cobra Kai" — stars as David Cho, a teenager who begins working at a men's spa in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles. Soon after starting his job, David discovers that some of the spa's clientele are using the business as cover to hook up with one another. This revelation spurs something of an awakening in David, who is afraid of how his own homosexuality will be received by his parents, who themselves hold certain conservative values.
"Spa Night" was a success on the independent film circuit, winning an award for Best Narrative Feature at the Boston LGBT Film Festival and the John Cassavetes Award for its cast at the Film Independent Spirit Awards (via IMDb). According to Variety, Ahn's next feature as director will be entitled "Fire Island," its title a reference to the real-life Fire Island located to the south of Long Island in New York.
When will Fire Island be released?
"Fire Island" will be produced by Searchlight Pictures, which was formerly known as Fox Searchlight prior to the acquisition of Fox by Disney. The film will accordingly be released directly to Hulu domestically, and internationally through Star on Disney+, which serves as an umbrella for more mature Disney-owned content outside of the U.S. The producers of "Fire Island" have not yet announced when the film will be released.
According to Variety, filming of "Fire Island" will begin in August of this year in both New York City and on location on Fire Island. It's virtually impossible, then, for "Fire Island" to be released during 2021, and unlikely still that its production will wrap up in time for a 2022 release. "Fire Island" will most likely come out sometime during 2023, its release month presumably dependent on whether the movie turns out to be more of a fun summer flick or a prestige film with awards potential.
Who will star in Fire Island?
Comedic performers Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang are set to star opposite one another in "Fire Island."
Booster is also responsible for writing the film's original screenplay. His past credits include appearances on millennial mystery TV series "Search Party," Larry David's long-running sitcom "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and the Nicolas Cage docuseries "History of Swear Words," among others. In 2019, Entertainment Weekly named Booster one of "11 Asian American comics who killed it this year — and need to be on your 2020 radar."
Yang is perhaps best-known for his role as a writer and featured performer on "Saturday Night Live," from which he's become a bona fide Hollywood success. He has also appeared on the influential sitcom "Broad City" and in recent musical comedy hit "Girls5Eva." He's also slated to provide a voice in the upcoming animated Netflix film "The Monkey King." In 2019, TIME Magazine included Yang on its annual "TIME 100 Next" list, which "spotlights 100 rising stars who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, science, health and more."
What will the plot of Fire Island be?
"Fire Island" will, fittingly, take place on Fire Island, which is an actual location just off the south shore of Long Island, New York. Cherry Grove and The Pines are both parts of the island well-known as longtime vacation destinations for those who identify as part of the LGBTQ community (via Roadtrippers Magazine).
The "Fire Island" film will tell a story inspired by "Pride and Prejudice," but set in the present day. Booster and Yang will portray two best friends on a weeklong Fire Island getaway "with the help of cheap rosé and a cadre of eclectic friends," as per Variety's report. No additional details about the story of "Fire Island" are yet public beyond this initial setup. Variety does, however, describe the film as a romantic comedy, providing some insight into the tone of the film. More details about "Fire Island" will likely surface after filming kicks off in August, and its production is under way.