Ira Sachs Returns with The Man I Love
For queer film lovers, few announcements spark joy like hearing Ira Sachs is back behind the camera. Sachs, a pioneering voice who emerged from the New Queer Cinema movement of the 1990s, has given us some of the most memorable LGBTQ+ films of the past three decades. From the intimate romance Keep the Lights On to the bittersweet marriage story Love Is Strange, from the coming-of-age drama Little Men to the daring polyamorous love triangle in Passages, his work consistently dives into the complexities of queer life.
Now, Sachs is stepping into new territory with his latest project: The Man I Love. And if early reports are anything to go by, it’s shaping up to be his boldest work yet.
Rami Malek, Rebecca Hall, Ebon Moss-Bachrach Starring in Ira Sachs’ Musical Fantasia ‘The Man I Love’ (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/Yf9B4hj2FE
— Variety (@Variety) September 30, 2025
A Queer Musical in 1980s New York
According to Variety, The Man I Love is set in the vibrant and chaotic late 1980s New York City, a moment when the city’s creative pulse beat as fiercely as its community’s struggles. Described as a “musical fantasia of a city under duress,” the film promises to be more than just another period piece it’s a love letter to resilience during the height of the AIDS crisis.
The story follows Jimmy George (played by Academy Award winner Rami Malek), a downtown artist navigating beauty, mortality, and love in a world where every day carries both despair and joy. Written with long-time collaborator Mauricio Zacharias, the film captures the essence of survival and creativity during a time of immense cultural upheaval.
Casting That Signals Queer Community
The cast list is already dazzling: Tom Sturridge (The Sandman), Rebecca Hall (The Prestige), Luther Ford (The Crown), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear). But it’s not just the leads that speak volumes. A casting call revealed the film is actively seeking drag performers, go-go dancers, club kids, queer couples, and LGBTQ+ artists to bring authenticity to the world Sachs is creating.
This isn’t just a movie about queer lives—it’s a movie with queer lives, woven into its very DNA.
Echoes of History, Powered by Music
The setting is no accident. By the late 1980s, AIDS had become the leading cause of death for men aged 25–44 in New York City. For many artists, their creativity burned brightest against this dark backdrop. Sachs himself arrived in New York in 1988, working as an assistant on Longtime Companion, the first major film to tackle the AIDS crisis head-on.
With The Man I Love, Sachs seems to be channeling not only the voices of a generation but his own lived experience of moving through that city at that time.
Why This Film Matters
While some outlets, like Variety, downplay the queer themes of the project, the casting calls and narrative details make clear: this is very much a queer story. It’s about artists, lovers, and community members living, creating, and loving in the face of loss.
And by framing it as a musical, Sachs may be offering something rare in AIDS cinema—a way to celebrate joy alongside grief, resilience alongside tragedy. Think less despair, more defiant glitter, rhythm, and love.
Release Date & What’s Next
The Man I Love is currently filming in New York through October, with an anticipated release in 2026. While details remain under wraps, it’s already shaping up as one of the most important queer films of the decade.
So, whether you’re a cinephile, a New Yorker, or simply someone who believes in the power of queer storytelling, this is one movie you’ll want to keep on your radar.
Stay tuned because when Ira Sachs tells a love story, it’s never just a love story.