Singer-songwriter Yungblud (Dominic Harrison) has announced that he will help to produce a new short film called Mars, named after his own 2020 hit single. Describing the venture as ‘an uncensored, unfiltered portrayal of youth’, the film will follow a day in the life of a young transgender person looking for acceptance. The movie is based on transgender Yungblud fan Charlie Acaster, and her own struggle to find acceptance from her parents.
The film’s creative team includes playwright Chris Bush and director Abel Rubinstein. It will be produced by Harrison, Cat Marshall and Stefan Demetriou. The movie will see Mercury Studios and Interscope Films coming together to create what Bush calls ‘a story where the mundane and the magical sit side by side. It’s Space Age escapism shot through with Northern grit’.
In line with the film’s support of transgender people, those involved have said they plan to focus on hiring people within the LGBT community. Production will begin later on this year and the film’s release date is expected to be around Spring 2022. In describing what the project means to him, Harrison has said that ‘this whole journey started with an encounter. Then it became a song, now it’s becoming a movie. All my art is about and forever will be about, is making people feel like they can be undeniably themselves, whoever they are – and with this project we’re turning that message up to 11’.
The song the film will be named after comes from Harrison’s latest album, 2020’s Weird, which reached number one in the UK albums chart, as well as number 75 on the US billboard 200. “Mars” reflects the isolation of a young transgender girl attempting to be understood by her parents and school colleagues. Harrison has often been an outspoken supporter of the transgender community, only last month reportedly asking for his venues to ensure the inclusion of gender-neutral bathrooms for his Life on Mars tour.
He posted a video on Twitter criticising Newcastle’s lack of compliance with the request. Harrison has been active in other political arenas in the past few years, having attended the 2018 March of Our Lives in Washington D.C, which protested against gun violence, as well as the George Floyd protests in California last year.
I WILL TRY MY BEST THAT EVERY YB SHOW TILL THE END OF TIME HAS GENDER NEUTRAL FACILITIES ! ily
pic.twitter.com/MDOZABdohE— YUNGBLUD’s a FLEABAG (@yungblud) October 12, 2021
In other news, Harrison has recently announced a new tour around Australia and New Zealand to begin next July. It will replace what was planned as a four-date tour last September, which was cancelled due to the pandemic. The musician will also be seen in North America from January to March next year.
AUSTRALIAA!!I i tried my best to come and play for you this year but after a lot of talks they won’t let me in, so im moving my shows to next year, i am upgrading the show in Melbourne to the arena so more of you can come https://t.co/e6PAVyAoB7 pic.twitter.com/w3zBoENZnj — YUNGBLUD’s a FLEABAG (@yungblud) November 9, 2021
