Every Friday, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London closes at 10 p.m. Sharp. However, one summer night, after the tourists had left and the streets of South Kensington were empty, two men slow-danced among the famous sculptures until sunrise. Accompanied by the indie-pop singer Perfume Genius’s cover of “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” the actors Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine created a tender, scripted moment for the film adaptation of Casey McQuiston’s 2019 novel, “Red, White & Royal Blue.” The director, Matthew López, called “Cut!” for a lunch break around 2 a.m., making it an intimate and special night for the small crew.
“Red, White & Royal Blue” is a romantic comedy that tells the story of Alex Claremont-Diaz, the bisexual son of the first female U.S. president, and Prince Henry, the younger brother of the heir to the British throne. The film explores their simmering rivalry evolving into a clandestine relationship. The adaptation secured the film rights to McQuiston’s novel in 2019 and has since become a New York Times bestseller for over 20 weeks. However, its popularity extends beyond the bestseller lists. Fans on BookTok, the literature-loving corner of TikTok, have expressed their adoration for the escapist love story, with videos tagged #redwhiteandroyalblue amassing over 500 million views.
The film, set to premiere on Prime Video, marks the directorial debut of Matthew López, a Tony-winning playwright known for his work on “The Inheritance” and the musical adaptation “Some Like It Hot.” López was immediately drawn to the idea of turning “Red, White & Royal Blue” into a film and convinced the producers Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter to give him the opportunity. After doing a second pass on the original script by Ted Malawer, López cast Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine, both experienced actors in romantic films. Zakhar Perez, of Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean descent, found resonance in his character Alex’s biracial identity, which López, also of Latiné descent, appreciated.
Chemistry reads were done virtually due to the audition process’s nature, and Zakhar Perez and Galitzine only met in person during rehearsals in London. They quickly formed trust, necessary for shooting the passionate scenes overseen by intimacy coordinator Robbie Taylor Hunt. López emphasized that the film does not shy away from depicting the characters’ sexuality accurately. Galitzine applauded López’s commitment to portraying gay sex accurately, something he believes hasn’t been fully realized in other LGBTQ+ films. Despite receiving an R rating from the Motion Picture Association, the film’s sexual moments are carefully shot and convey tenderness rather than explicitness.
As the release date approaches, fans eagerly anticipate the film’s arrival while expressing concerns about potential differences from the book. López acknowledges that the film may not perfectly match every reader’s individual vision, but he emphasizes his commitment to the story and the fans. Some broader critiques question the premise of the story and the recurring theme of coming out in queer romances. However, Jacob Demlow of A Very Queer Book Club sees value in both coming-out stories and stories that tackle different themes. The need is not for fewer stories of a certain type but for a diverse array of stories that explore various experiences.
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