10 Queer Stage Pairings That Should Reunite on Screen

Over the years, queer entertainment has not only featured on the big and small screen, but also on the stage. Actors have spent weeks and even months bonding on stage for theatre productions all over the world. Chemistry between performers is critical to a stage performance and this has led to some memorable pairings. This week's listicle spotlights 10 stage pairings we would love to see reunite on screen. Leave a comment below if we missed any of your favorites. Warning: Light Spoilers Ahead!

 

Toussaint Jeanlouis & Korey Jackson (The Hot Wing King)
The Pulitzer Prize-winning 2020 Off-Broadway play The Hot Wing King had a queer romance at its heart. Toussaint Jeanlouis & Korey Jackson starred as a couple whose preparations for the town's yearly wing competition are interrupted, leading to an exploration of masculinity and sexuality in the American South. The play would make a great movie adaptation with Jeanlouis & Jackson reprising their roles on screen.
Photo Credit: Monique Carboni

 

Fisayo Akinade & James Cusati-Moyer (Slave Play)
Best known for playing helpful teacher Mr. Ajaye on Netflix's Heartstopper, Fisayo Akinade got to spread his wings in Season 2 of the series, getting his own love interest (Nima Taleghani). For the 2024 West End production of Slave Play, Akinade was paired with the handsome James Cusati-Moyer. The thematically charged production didn't allow for much romance, but many would love to see that change with a future pairing. 
Photo Credit: Helen Murray

 

Christian Borle & Andrew Rannells (Falsettos) 
The stage musical Falsettos received a successful Broadway revival in 2016, with Christian Borle & Andrew Rannells in the roles of Marvin & Whizzer, respectively. The pair of stage veterans both scored Tony Award nominations for the musical, with their shared chemistry being one of the production's big assets. With their experience in both comedy and musicals, a Borle & Rannells reunion would certainly entertain. 
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

 

Connor Delves & Tommy Sim'aan (Starcrossed) 
Rachel Garnet's clever queer spin on characters within Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, Starcrossed told the story of love that develops between Mercutio (Connor Delves) & Tybalt (Tommy Sim'aan) who take center stage to explore a stifled hopeful romance despite the scheming world they inhabit. The production relied on the chemistry between Delves & Sim'aan which could easily translate into a contemporary film drama.
Photo Credit: Pamela Raith Photography

 

Michael Urie & Robin DeJesus (Homos, or Everyone in America)
Michael Urie & Robin DeJesus paired up for the stage production of the dramedy Homos, or Everyone in America, playing an urban couple whose relationship is tested in the wake of a vicious crime. Despite also working together on the comedy podcast Does This Murder Make Me Look Gay?!, the two have yet to work together on screen. Their chemistry could easily bring heart and humor to a queer screen comedy.
Photo Credit: Monique Carboni

 

Jeremy Pope & Taylor Frey (The View UpStairs)
Based on the real-life arson attack on the gay venue the Upstairs Lounge in 1973, the Off-Broadway 2017 musical The View UpStairs cast Jeremy Pope & Taylor Frey as lead star-crossed lovers, Wes & Patrick, respectively. The two found major chemistry in their roles despite their characters' very different backgrounds. We'd love seeing Pope & Frey take on the roles of a couple in a present-day romantic comedy
Photo Credit: Kurt Sneddon

 

Omari Douglas & Alexander Lincoln (This Bitter Earth)
The 2025 London production of the play This Bitter Earth paired queer actors Omari Douglas & Alexander Lincoln in an exploration of interracial love and conflict. Directed by queer icon Billy Porter, Douglas & Lincoln captured passion despite divisive politics, as their priorities clashed, testing their relationship. Imagine the duo bringing their chemistry to a compelling feature drama, perhaps joined by Porter on the screen. 
Photo Credit: Tristram Kenton

 

Mike Faist & Lucas Hedges (Brokeback Mountain) 
Lucas Hedges & Mike Faist brought their talents to the London stage for the 2023 adaptation of Annie Proulx's short story. With Hedges playing Ennis and Faist portraying Jack, the two developed a chemistry all their own, 18 years after Heath Ledger & Jake Gyllenhaal's iconic film pairing. Their rough yet tender portrayals would translate well to a romantic feature film pairing or a drama series, hopefully with a happier ending.
Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan

 

Cole Escola & James Scully (Oh, Mary!)
Out actor James Scully is no stranger to playing the object of queer affection thanks to the movie Fire Island and the series Titans. For the hit play Oh, Mary!, Scully played the handsome teacher that catches the eye of the chaotic First Lady, Mary Todd Lincoln (Cole Escola). Scully & Escola could easily transition their playful chemistry to the big screen for a romantic comedy that would also leave audiences gagged.  
Photo Credit: Emilio Madrid

 

Joe Locke & Ruaridh Mollica (Clarkston)
Joe Locke & Ruaridh Mollica made waves playing Americans who form an unlikely romantic bond in the 2025 West End production of Clarkston. The duo will soon be connected once again, thanks to Mollica's casting as Tommy, the on-screen brother of Locke's Billy Maximoff in the Marvel universe, but we'd love to see them back together as love interests, showing off their romantic chemistry on the big or small screen. 
Photo Credit: Marc Brenner