Actor Dylan O’Brien is stepping into bold new territory this year with not one, but two LGBTQ+ films—and he’s doing it with heartfelt purpose and pride.
The Teen Wolf and Maze Runner alum will appear in the upcoming queer drama Ponyboi, a groundbreaking feature starring and co-written by intersex actor and filmmaker River Gallo. O’Brien plays Vinny, a shady drug dealer entangled in a secret affair with the film’s title character, all while dating Ponyboi’s best friend Angel—played by The Haunting of Bly Manor star Victoria Pedretti.
Set in gritty New Jersey and bursting with heart, Ponyboi follows a young intersex sex worker and laundromat employee who is forced to go on the run after a drug deal goes sideways. What follows is a surreal journey of self-discovery and survival, all underpinned by the film’s unapologetically queer lens.
“I have a trans, nonbinary sibling and I know people in my personal life who are queer, and I am so grateful for how much it deepens my experience in this world,” O’Brien told Vulture in a recent joint interview with Gallo and other cast members. “It was really important to me to be a part of something like this as an ally.”
O’Brien’s sibling, Julz O’Brien, is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns. On social media, Julz often shares moments with their brother, calling Dylan their “very first best friend” and proudly celebrating their LGBTQIA+ identity.
View this post on Instagram
In a separate interview with Adobe, O’Brien admitted that working on Ponyboi opened his eyes to the lived experiences of intersex people, a community he previously knew little about. “Going in, I was extremely uneducated on intersex and the intersex community,” he said. “This was such an enlightening experience to me. River is someone I’ll carry with me for life.”
Ponyboi made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2024, earning critical acclaim for its bold storytelling and Gallo’s standout performance. The cast also includes Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) as a mysterious cowboy and Indya Moore (Pose) as Charlie.
For Gallo, the film marks a historic milestone. “Girl, Ponyboi prevailed,” they wrote in a statement. “We made this movie for the intersex baddies, dolls, misfits, and outsiders, and for it to finally be out in the world is nothing less than revolutionary.”
Ponyboi opens in theaters June 27, distributed by Fox Entertainment Studios and Gathr.
But O’Brien’s queer cinema journey doesn’t end there. Later this year, he also stars in Twinless, a tender, offbeat drama from James Sweeney (Straight Up), who writes, directs, and co-stars in the film.
Twinless follows two young men who meet in a support group for people grieving the loss of a twin. As they navigate sorrow and identity, their bond evolves into a deep and unexpected connection.
The film is set for theatrical release on September 5.
Whether he’s playing a sleazy drug dealer or a grieving twin-seeker, O’Brien’s commitment to queer storytelling—and his personal connection to the LGBTQIA+ community—has never been clearer.
For updates on Ponyboi, visit ponyboifilm.com, and for more on Twinless, check out twinlessfilm.com.
