August 22, 2023
'Bros' Star Luke Macfarlane Heads Back to Hallmark for Gay Autumn Rom-Com
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
"Bros" star Luke Macfarlane has featured in a number of Hallmark Channel movies, though usually playing straight. Now he's headed back to the channel for a gay lead role in a fall season rom-com.
The openly gay actor will co-star with Ashley Williams, Marcus Rosner, and Peter Porte in "Notes of Autumn," a house-swap movie that sees two best friends – musician Ellie (Williams) and novelist Leo (Macfarlane) – trading residences for a while in order to find fresh inspiration for their respective artistic pursuits. And what better way to get inspired than by falling in love?
"Ellie gets tangled up in helping Leo's neighbor, Sam (Rosner), put together a musical performance for a local fundraiser and comes to terms with why she quit music years ago," TV Insider detailed.
"Meanwhile, Leo strikes up a friendship with Ellie's good friend Matt (Porte) and opens himself up to writing something different that really inspires him. Their newfound friendships turn into something far more meaningful."
The Hallmark Channel helped lead the way in LGBTQ+ representation in the glut of holiday movies. Macfarlane has been out since his days on the acclaimed TV series "Brothers and Sisters," but in his many roles in Hallmark Channel movies he has typically played heterosexual characters, though he also starred in last year's gay-themed Netflix Christmas movie "Single All the Way."
Another big name associated with Hallmark Channel, Candace Cameron Bure, severed her relationship with the cable channel even as Hallmark began providing more representation. Jumping over to Great American Family to serve as the channel's chief creative officer, Bure explained the switch by telling the Wall Street Journal, "I knew that the people behind Great American Family were Christians that love the Lord and wanted to promote faith programming and good family entertainment."
But "family" in this case doesn't include same-sex couples. Bure shot down the notion that Great American Family would depict families with two moms or two dads.
"I think that Great American Family will keep traditional marriage at the core," Bure said.
Over on the Hallmark Channel, "Notes of Autumn" is set to premiere Sept. 16.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
