Red, White & Royal Blue

Amazon won the film rights to Casey McQuiston’s novel at auction in April 2019. Matthew López was hired in October 2021 to direct and rewrite a draft by Ted Malawer; it became his first feature. The leads were announced on 1 June 2022, with Uma Thurman confirmed straight afterwards as President Ellen Claremont. Filming ran in England from June to August 2022. The dance scene was shot in the Sculpture Gallery of the Victoria and Albert Museum, with Ivan Meštrović’s Torso of Banović Strahinja in frame. The premiere was held at the BFI IMAX in London on 22 July 2023 with none of the actors present, because the SAG-AFTRA strike was under way. López was the only person from the production there, and as a striking writers union member he did not walk the red carpet or give interviews. It was nominated for outstanding television movie at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards. It took one GLAAD Media Award nomination and won the voted Queer Fan Favorite prize. A good fit if you can take a premiere held without its actors, and want to watch knowing the dance scene was shot in a working museum gallery. Not for anyone who needs the White House and the palace played straight; the plot starts when a 75,000 pound wedding cake goes over.