Billy Porter has signed on to direct a film adaptation of Lev Rosen‘s YA novel Camp. The film is being made specifically for HBO Max and is being described as a teen comedy about love, musical theater and summer camp.
Rosen’s novel revolves around 16-year-old Randy Kapplehoff, who spends his summers at Camp Outland, an outdoor oasis for queer teens. That’s where he makes new friends, stars in the big musical, and falls in love with Hudson Aaronson-Lim, a boy who doesn’t know he exists.
In a quest to change that, Randy reinvents himself as the buff and masculine Del, who forgoes his beloved show tunes, nail polish and unicorn bedsheets to capture the heart of Hudson. But as the two grow closer, Randy has to consider how much he’s willing to change for love.
Porter will not only direct, but also play the role of Mark, the camp’s theater director. No one has yet been cast as Randy or Hudson. Robert O’Hara is writing the screenplay from a previous draft by Kit Williamson. Dan Jinks (American Beauty, Milk) is producing via his Dan Jinks Company, and said in a statement:
“Billy Porter, who I’ve been fortunate to know for more than 20 years, is the perfect director for this story, which is both hilariously funny, and also quite moving. I wish a movie like this was around when I was growing up. I’m thrilled we get to make it now.”
Porter has recently become a hot commodity, as this is the third directorial gig he’s signed onto in the last year. He’s also helming queer comedy film To Be Real at Amazon, while he’s also making a coming-of-age romantic comedy What If? for Orion Pictures.
Porter is best known for his role in Pose, for which he received multiple Emmy nominations.
He recently appeared as Fabulous Godmother in Kay Cannon‘s reimagining of Cinderella, while he’s previously worked with HBO thanks to appearing in the HBO Max Gossip Girl reboot. It will be fascinating to see how his directing career begins with three films in quick succession.
#Peace.Love.Camp
