Scottish actor Alan Cumming labelled the 2003 film ‘X2’ as the ‘gayest’ in his career, highlighting the contribution of queer creatives and themes. He stresses the significance of such cinema in depicting and normalising queer identities to wider audiences.
Alan Cumming, a Scottish actor and television personality, recently described the 2003 film “X2” as the “gayest film that I’ve ever done” during an interview with Entertainment Weekly. He cited the involvement of a queer director and numerous queer actors in the film, adding that the movie’s themes serve as an allegory for queerness, portraying characters with powerful abilities that they are forced to hide. Cumming, who played the character Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler, emphasized that such films help mainstream audiences understand queer identities by addressing them artistically.
Directed by Bryan Singer, “X2” is the sequel to the 2000 film “X-Men.” The film brought back much of the original cast, including Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, and Famke Janssen, with newcomers like Brian Cox and Aaron Stanford joining the lineup. Released on April 24, 2003, in London and May 2, 2003, in the United States, “X2” garnered positive reviews for its storyline and performances. Financially, it outperformed its predecessor with a worldwide box office gross of $407.7 million.
Cumming publicly came out as bisexual in 1998. His career spans notable projects, from his television debut in ITV Granada’s “Travelling Man” to films like “GoldenEye” and “Spice World.” He is also recognized for his roles in TV series such as “The Good Wife” and “Schmigadoon!”
Presently, Cumming is the host of the U.S. reality series “The Traitors,” which was renewed for a third season. He took to Instagram to thank fans and the Critics Choice Real TV Awards for selecting him as the Male Star of the Year.
