Billy Eichner Is Giving The World A Gay Rom-Com

Billy Eichner is adding a little bit romance to his repertoire. The comedian has announced that he is going to star in and co-write a gay rom-com for Universal. Nick Stoller is set to direct as well as co-write, while Judd Apatow is on board to produce the project.


The movie will center around two males with commitment problems who fall in love and attempt a relationship. It's an eas premise, which leaves a lot of space for the story to waver between outrageous comedy and realistic emotions.


Eichner's star has been steadily rising as his Emmy-nominated Billy on the Street series keeps it up and continues to warm up. (He recently walked around the streets of New York yelling at passersby with one Lin-Manuel Miranda.) He's set to appear in Jon Favreau's The Lion King remake as Timon, stars in Netflix's Friends From College (which recently released its second season), and has appeared in two seasons of American Horror Story.


Eichner hasn't been hiding his excitement on social media. "Excited, terrified, fully in shock and Overjoyed as hell to announce this movie," he tweeted. "We’re creating a big, new romantic comedy for Universal!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!"


He's right to be celebrating — a major studio movie about a gay man that is written by and starring an out gay man is an enormous move toward visibility and inclusivity. With this announcement coming on the heels of the news that Kristen Stewart will be starring in a lesbian rom-com directed by Clea Duvall, it seems like Hollywood is finally investing in different types of stories.


Here's hoping the rom-com boom keeps it up and continues to celebrate love in all forms.