Photo: @brandonflynn
Brandon Flynn is set to take on a highly anticipated and significant role as Hollywood icon James Dean in the upcoming biopic Willie and Jimmy Dean.
This film is poised to explore Dean’s reported romantic relationship with writer William Bast, offering a tender and complex portrayal of their hidden romance in the 1950s. Flynn himself noted that the story “highlights how Hollywood has historically forced LGBTQ people into performance, even in their personal lives,” indicating the film’s potential to shed crucial light on a lesser-known aspect of queer history.
As an openly gay actor, Flynn has consistently chosen roles that contribute to LGBTQ+ visibility and explore complex queer narratives.
Beyond his portrayal of James Dean, Flynn’s most prominent role was Justin Foley in the Netflix teen drama 13 Reasons Why (2017-2020). While Justin’s primary storyline focused on other issues, the series implicitly touched upon themes of sexuality and acceptance. Flynn’s presence as an openly gay actor in such a widely watched leading role significantly boosted LGBTQ+ visibility, earning him a Queerty Award for “Closet Door Bustdown” in 2018.
He further expanded his queer filmography with the 2025 comedy film The Parenting, where he plays Josh, one half of a young gay couple. The movie centers on their parents meeting, promising a comedic and potentially heartfelt exploration of family dynamics within a queer context.
Flynn’s career choices consistently reflect a dedication to roles that not only entertain but also contribute to a broader understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities in mainstream media, firmly establishing him as an important voice for queer representation.
