Billy Porter has signed a first look deal with FX Productions for his new production company Incognegro with producing partner D.J. Gugenheim.
"I’m so glad I’ve been blessed to live long enough to see this day. The day where my queerness was my liability, to now where it grounds my work in personal authenticity and power. This is where we change the conversation. This is where they have the guts to tell the stories that resonate on the deepest level," says Porter. "Whether it’s about famous artists who you don’t fully understand or people from communities you don’t fully know or biting comedy you’ve thought about but never fully explored, this is such a wonderful home to tell the stories I’ve been talking about my whole life. The FX team is fearless and I can’t wait to break new grounds together."
"While Pose was an incredible show that had a deep impact on strengthening my understanding of the importance of telling underrepresented stories and created a clear opening to approach Billy to direct Anything's Possible, it was working on set with Billy and watching him direct the cast and crew that left me with the most profound experience,” adds Gugenheim. "I am thrilled to be working with such a visionary storyteller and to be starting this journey at such a forward thinking and brilliant TV studio as FX."
The stage and screen star won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama for his role as Prayerful "Pray" Tell in the FX series Pose, created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Steven Canals. Porter's upcoming projects including making his directorial debut with the Amazon Prime movie Anything's Possible, set to arrive July 22 on the streamer.
The performer is also slated to direct an episode of Fox's crime anthology Accused. Previously, Porter has accumulated stage direction credits, including Sam Harris' 2015 solo show HAM: A Musical Memoir and the recent New York City Center Encores! production of The Life. He also serves as a co-producer for the Tony Award-winning musical A Strange Loop.
Porter originated the roles of Lola in Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein's Kinky Boots and Aubrey Lyles in Shuffle Along, Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed. He also starred in productions of Angels in America, Little Shop of Horrors, Grease, Miss Saigon, Five Guys Named Joe, and Smokey Joe's Cafe. His screen credits include making an appearance in Apple TV+'s Dear, Amazon Prime's Cinderella, and American Horror Story: Apocalypse. He's expected to voice Audrey II in a developing Little Shop of Horrors film remake.
Watch the trailer for Anything's Possible below.
