'Hamilton' Actor Andrew Chappelle Makes Directorial Debut with Queer Erotic Short Starring Tony Nominee James Cusati-Moyer

Andrew Chappelle, an actor recognized for his work in the hit musical 'Hamilton', is taking a bold step by making his directorial debut with the queer erotic short film titled 'I'm Gonna Kill You'.

The project, which promises to be an intense and visually striking exploration, marks a milestone in Chappelle's career, who also wrote the script.

The news has generated great expectation in the film industry, especially due to the theme and the selected cast.

The short film 'I'm Gonna Kill You' stars Tony-nominated James Cusati-Moyer in the lead role.

The plot, set in the distant future within an exclusively gay colony, follows the story of Cal (Cusati-Moyer) and Spector (Michael Graceffa), two lovers who are fighting internal conflicts.

The narrative promises to explore complex and controversial themes, keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat.

The cast of 'I'm Gonna Kill You' includes Phillipa Soo ('Hamilton'), Johnny Sibilly ('Hacks'), Michael Graceffa ('Ghosts'), Angus O’Brien ('Boots'), Brandon Black ('Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story') and Sara Lindsey ('American Rust').

The production is led by Juxtapose Studio, with a $25,000 investment from Troye Sivan and Grindr's Tap or Block campaign.

In addition, the project received a $5,000 production grant earned through the Pitch, Please! competition at the 2024 InsideOUT Toronto Film Festival, with Kate Aitken from Google as executive producer.

According to Andrew Chappelle, 'I'm Gonna Kill You' arose from reflection during the Covid-19 pandemic, exploring life in smaller communities.

Chappelle seeks to expand the thriller genre within queer cinema, promising an experience that will 'arouse and petrify', exploring the destructive power of envy.

The short seeks to challenge boundaries and offer a fresh and bold perspective on human relationships and social dynamics.

Luke Anderson, founding partner of Juxtapose Studio, highlights the producer's intention to invest in queer, female, and POC stories.

Anderson points out that, despite the current difficulties surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion, the studio is proud to bring this LGBTQ+ erotic thriller to life.

The project seeks to diversify the escapist genre and offer a new perspective within cinema.

Andrew Chappelle had already dabbled in writing with the 2023 short film 'Fanatic', directed by Taran Killam, which won the LGBTQ Audience Award at SCAD.

Chappelle also co-hosts the GLAAD-nominated podcast 'Tactful Pettiness'.

The article also mentions the actors' representation agencies, such as Cornerstone Talent Agency for Chappelle, Untitled Entertainment for Cusati-Moyer, and others for Graceffa, Sibilly, O’Brien, Black, Soo, and Lindsey.