News

Bleecker Street has partnered with World of Wonder to acquire North American rights to an untitled action comedy from Adam Shankman to star RuPaul.

Dubbed as the first theatrical feature project from the RuPaul’s Drag Race universe, the story will follow best friends Tess and DeeDee, train stewardesses who trade their dreary shifts on the Stank Rail for the glitzy Glamazonian Express.

When a catastrophic “Stormganza” threatens to derail the high-speed train and crash it into Los Angeles, the duo in coach must join forces with the snobby first-class passengers and President Gagwell (RuPaul), to save the day.

Principal...

All aboard! RuPaul is heading back to the big screen with a train-set action-comedy directed by Adam Shankman. It comes from World of Wonder with theatrical distribution by Bleecker Street planned for 2026.

The currently untitled movie “will follow best friends Tess and DeeDee, train stewardesses who trade their dreary shifts on the Stank Rail for the glitzy Glamazonian Express. When a catastrophic ‘Stormganza’ threatens to derail the high-speed train and crash it into Los Angeles, the duo in coach must join forces with the snobby first class attendants, and President Gagwell [RuPaul], to save the day in this wild ride of camp and comedy,” per the logline.

“President Judy Gagwell...

RuPaul’s Drag Race is sashaying to the big screen with a camp runaway train thriller as the MTV drag queen competition series continues to expand its storytelling universe.

Bleecker Street has picked up the North American rights to an untitled action comedy feature to be directed by Adam Shankman (Hairspray) and to center on camp drag queens on a chaotic high-speed train journey. “We are so excited to be boarding this train,” Kent Sanderson, CEO of Bleecker Street, said in a statement on Thursday ahead of a planned theatrical release in 2026.

“The world that World of Wonder has been building for years is so incredible, and Adam Shankman is a comedy legend. We are so honored to be bringing this first, and wonderfully nuts, big screen experience to audiences nationwide,” Sanderson added. The deal with franchise producer World of Wonder will see RuPaul, host of RuPaul’s Drag Race, star in the theatrical comedy.

RuPaul will trade the runway for the big screen, starring in a new and, as yet, untitled action-comedy from “Hairspray” director Adam Shankman.

Bleecker Street has teamed up with Emmy-winning media company World of Wonder to acquire North American rights to the film. The film, which is billed as the first-ever feature from the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” universe, will be released theatrically nationwide in 2026.

According to an official plot description, the film will follow “best friends Tess and DeeDee, train stewardesses who trade their dreary shifts on the Stank Rail for the glitzy Glamazonian Express. When a catastrophic ‘Stormganza’ threatens to derail the high-speed train and crash it into Los Angeles, the duo in coach must join forces with the snobby first class attendants, and President Gagwell (RuPaul), to save the day.” The whole thing sounds a little like “Silver Streak,” only a lot more fabulous.

RuPaul says: “President Judy...

RuPaul Charles is sashaying to the big screen with the first feature film from the RuPaul’s Drag Race universe.

The 14x Emmy-winning drag legend is set to produce and star in an action-comedy from director Adam Shankman (Hairspray) and World of Wonder, which has been acquired by Bleecker Street for a 2026 nationwide theatrical release.

The untitled film follows best friends Tess and DeeDee, train stewardesses who trade their dreary shifts on the Stank Rail for the glitzy Glamazonian Express. When a catastrophic “Stormganza” threatens to derail the high-speed train and crash it into Los Angeles, the duo in coach must join forces with the snobby first class attendants and President Gagwell (RuPaul) to save the day in this wild ride of camp and comedy.

“President Judy Gagwell is the part I was born to play. Finally, a role I can sink my dentures into,” said Charles in a statement.

RuPaul isn’t done werqing the world — in fact, “Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale” just debuted as Wow Presents Plus’ most-watched global premiere ever, TheWrap can exclusively reveal.

The franchise’s latest international all-stars season premiered on Aug. 13, with its cast of international queens bringing in a 50% increase in viewership compared to the Season 3 premiere of “Drag Race Philippines” in 2024.

Plus, the streamer has announced that “UK vs. The World” Season 2 fan-favorite Marina Summers and former “Philippines” winners Precious Paula Nicole, Captivating KatKat and Maxie are teaming up to form REYN4, Wow Records’ first-ever girl group.

The foursome will be taking part in the Slaysian Royale later on this season,...

Michelle Visage has been tapped to host the inaugural season of Drag Race Down Under vs. The World.

The long-time RuPaul’s Drag Race judge will be joined by comedian Rhys Nicholson and Season 4 winner Lazy Susan in the judging panel.

Following Drag Race UK vs The World and Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs. The World, Drag Race Down Under vs. The World will see fan favorites from Drag Race Down Under go head-to-head with queens from around the world in the ultimate battle for the crown.

“We couldn’t be more excited to expand the Drag Race legacy. We are going totally Glocal as local legends face off against global icons,” World of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato said. “Down Under vs The World promises a season packed with unfiltered moments, fashion, and lip syncs that will leave no lash unglued.”

Related: ‘Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale...

The Supermodel of the World continues to conquer the globe.

After hosting the first three seasons of “Drag Race Down Under,” RuPaul is once again relinquishing hosting duties to Michelle Visage for “Drag Race Down Under vs. The World,” World of Wonder announced on Tuesday.

She will be joined on the judges’ panel by mainstay Rhys Nicholson and Season 4 winner Lazy Susan.

“We couldn’t be more excited to expand the ‘Drag Race’ legacy. We are going totally Glocal as local legends face off against global icons. ‘Down Under vs. The World’ promises a season packed with unfiltered moments, fashion and lip syncs that will leave no lash unglued,” Wow...

Michelle Visage is back!

This time, the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” judge is on hosting duty. Visage will host the inaugural season of “Drag Race Down Under vs. The World.”

Joining Visage are actor and comedian Rhys Nicholson and Season 4 winner Lazy Susan. The series is set to air on Wow Presents Plus in the U.S. and select territories, and Stan in Australia.

World of Wonder co-founders, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, said: “We couldn’t be more excited to expand the ‘Drag Race’ legacy. We are going totally Glocal as local legends face off against global icons. ‘Down Under vs. The World’ promises a season packed with unfiltered moments, fashion, and lip syncs that will leave no lash unglued.”

“Drag Race Down Under vs. The World” will see fan favorites from “Drag Race Down Under” go head-to-head with sickening queens from around the world — all vying for the ultimate crown.

The RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise is expanding further down under.

World of Wonder announced the addition of Drag Race Down Under vs The World to the franchise’s growing international slate on Tuesday. The new series, which will be hosted by Michelle Visage, will see contestants from around the world compete against one another in the Australian and New Zealand-based series.

Down Under vs The World arrives as the third vs The World spinoff for the franchise, following in the footsteps of both the British and Canadian-set vs The World series.

Originally dubbed RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, the Australian and New Zealand-based spinoff debuted in 2021. In March 2024, the series was renamed to simply Drag Race Down Under and Visage, a longtime judge on the main series and its RuPaul-hosted installments, stepped up as host for season four.

Of being asked to host Drag Race Down Under, Visage told...

RuPaul’s Drag Race has officially been renewed for Season 18, as revealed in a recent announcement shared by host and drag icon RuPaul Charles. “It’s official. RuPaul’s Drag Race has been renewed for a gag-worthy 18th season on MTV,” Charles said in a clip shared on the YouTube page of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

The last season of the show drew in highest-rated premiere for the show in seven years with Onya Nurve taking home the winning title. Season 18 will air on MTV, though a premiere date has yet to be revealed.

RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Renewed for Season 11 on Paramount+ Alongside Untucked

In addition to the long-running reality competition TV show,...

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is back with Season 7 with a new group of queens racing to be the UK’s next drag superstar.

International drag icon, RuPaul, returns to host the new season of the competition that over ten weeks will see the twelve hopeful queens compete in a variety of spicy challenges and iconic games designed to test their drag skills.

The winner of the week will be awarded a much-coveted RuPeter badge, and the bottoms of the week will face a Lip Sync For Their Life and the risk of elimination.

Related: ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Renewed For Season 18 At MTV & Paramount+ Picks Up ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars’ For Season 11

RuPaul, affectionately revered as Mama Ru, leads an esteemed judging panel that includes regular judges Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton, as well as a host of special celebrity guest judges. Together they deliberate the fate of the queens,...

Following RuPaul’s Drag Race receiving 10 Emmy Award nominations across the franchise, MTV and Paramount+ today announced that RuPaul’s Drag Race and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars have been greenlit for new seasons, along with Untucked for both.

“We want to express our gratitude to Paramount for their unwavering support of the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise as we celebrate more seasons of spreading joy and laughter,” said World of Wonder co-founders and executive producers, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.

RuPaul’s Drag Race will return to MTV for its 18th season following a standout year, with season 17 delivering the highest-rated premiere in seven years. Onya Nurve made herstory as well, becoming the first queen from Cleveland to snatch the crown as America’s Next Drag Superstar.

Also returning is the Emmy Award-winning after-show, RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked.

Additionally, Paramount+ has renewed RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars for season 11, following the first-ever Tournament of All Stars season,...

The RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise is going the distance!

MTV has officially ordered Season 18 of the flagship competition series, while Paramount+ has renewed RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars for Season 11.

Both renewals also include their companion series, RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: Untucked.

Keep reading to find out more…

“We want to express our gratitude to Paramount for their unwavering support of the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise as we celebrate more seasons of spreading joy and laughter,” said World of Wonder co-founders and executive producers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, via Deadline.

Season 17 of Drag Race was a ratings hit, delivering the highest-rated premiere in years and posting major gains in the 18-34 and 18-49 demographics. Onya Nurve was crowned the Season 17 winner, walking away with the $200,000 grand prize.

Meanwhile, All Stars Season 10 introduced the Tournament of All Stars format, splitting queens into three groups...

The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” franchise lives to shantay another day. MTV has ordered Season 18 of the flagship series and its “Untucked” aftershow, while Paramount+ renewed “Drag Race All Stars” for Season 11 along with its “Untucked” iteration.

The Wednesday news comes as the competition celebrates 10 Emmy nominations across four shows, and as Season 17 scored the highest-rated premiere in seven years.

“We are so grateful for all the love and support you’ve shown to our show and our talented queens,” host RuPaul said in a video message announcing the renewals.

“We want to express our gratitude to Paramount for their unwavering support of the ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ franchise as we celebrate more seasons of spreading joy and laughter,” added Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, co-founders and executive producers of World of Wonder, which produces the franchise.

Season 17 saw drag performer Onya Nurve get the crown of America’s Next Drag Superstar,...

Condragulations are in order for the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise as MTV and Paramount+ have picked up additional seasons.

MTV has ordered RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18, and Paramount+ renewed RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars for Season 11.

The renewals for each of the shows also come with the renewals of the companion series’ RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: Untucked.

“We want to express our gratitude to Paramount for their unwavering support of the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise as we celebrate more seasons of spreading joy and laughter,” said World of Wonder co-founders and executive producers, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.

RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 delivered the highest-rated premiere in years. The latest season averaged a 0.54 rating among adults 18-34 and a 0.5 among adults 18-49, per live + same-day data from Nielsen. Season 17 also managed the most significant full-season share of television in RuPaul’s Drag Race history in key demos.

Dear Viv, the career-spanning documentary spotlighting the late RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne, is set to arrive on Wow Presents Plus and will air locally across the pond on BBC Three and iPlayer on Aug. 28.

The Vivienne, whose real name was James Lee Williams, died in January of cardiac arrest due to the effects of taking ketamine. The drag artist was a mainstay in the Drag Race landscape, notably winning the first season of its UK-based spinoff and becoming the first international queen to appear on the American franchise in RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season seven, which consisted of a cast of all winners.

Dear Viv is produced by World of Wonder, the Emmy Award-winning production company behind RuPaul’s Drag Race, which was co-founded by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato. The doc is directed by Pete Williams, a longtime producer of Wow’s beloved UNHhhh shortform series,...

As the premiere of the first season of Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale approaches, Wow Presents Plus has unveiled the list of guest judges appearing throughout the series.

Host Paolo Ballesteros will be joined by RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars winner Alyssa Edwards, RuPaul’s Drag Race S16 winner Nymphia Wind, RuPaul’s Drag Race S15 winner Sasha Colby, and RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars 8 winner Jimbo. KaladKaren also returns to the judging panel.

List of all the guest judges for Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale Season 1

• Captivating Katkat (Drag Race Philippines S2 winner)

• Sasha Colby (RuPaul’s Drag Race S15 winner)

• Alyssa Edwards (RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars winner)

• Pangina Heals (Drag Race Thailand host and RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World contestant)

• Jimbo (RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars S8 winner)

• Marina Summers (Drag Race Philippines S1 runnerup and RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs.

Wow Presents Plus has unveiled the all-star cast of Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale Season 1.

The queens competing in the inaugural season of the reality series include fan favorites from previous seasons of the Philippines franchise, as they take on Asian queens from across the global franchise.

Queens from the Philippines franchise include Arizona Brandy (Season 2), Bernie (Season 2), Brigiding (Season 1), Khianna (Season 3), and Viñas Deluxe (Season 1).

Related: ‘Drag Race Brasil’ Season 2 Cast Photos: Meet The 12 Queens Competing In Wow Presents Plus Competition

Asian queens from across the Drag Race universe include Ivory Glaze (Drag Race Down Under Season 3), Kitty Space (Drag Race France Season 2), Madame Yoko (Drag Race Belgique Season 2), Siam Phusri (Drag Race Thailand), Suki Doll (Canada’s Drag Race Season 2), Sum Ting Wong (RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 1), and Yuhua (RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 10).

Related: ‘House Of Villains’ Season 3 Cast Photos: Tiffany ‘New York’ Pollard, Tom Sandoval,...

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” executive producer and World of Wonder co-founder Fenton Bailey is still giddy over the cold open of Season 17’s sketch “Squirrel Games.”

“It’s better than drugs. It’s better than sex. It’s the best thing ever,” Bailey laughs. In a play on “Squid Games,” the first 10 minutes of the reality competition series opened with the drag queens and the show’s alumni being thrust into “Ru Light, Green Light,” each having to serve their best moves when the beat drops. The losers get creamed.

It was a brilliantly executed idea from a seasoned team who continue to bring their A-game to the franchise and elevate the viewing experience.

And that was just the opener.

The season ended with a guest appearance by Liza Minnelli, who received the show’s Giving Us Lifetime Achievement Award.

At a time when Dei initiatives are being pulled back and LGBTQ+ rights are under attack,...

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” executive producer Randy Barbato, co-executive producer/judge Michelle Visage, and choreographer/judge Jamal Sims joined former “Drag Race” guest judge and superfan Leslie Jones Friday night for a special panel as part of the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” FYC Emmy Pool Party Extravaganza event.

Joined by Season 17 winner Onya Nurve and the top six queens Jewels Sparkles, Sam Star, Suzie Toot, Lana Ja’Rae and Lexi Love, the panel discussed drag inspirations, representation, and the importance of supportive family.

According to Sims, who has been serving as a guest judge and choreographer on “Drag Race” since 2014, the key to a successful queen is confidence.

“I literally don’t meet the queens until y’all see it on TV – we’re filming as we go,” Sims revealed. “But what I look for is confidence. The minute I see there’s confidence in somebody, I’m like ‘Oh, that one’s gonna go far.

Since Season 17 of RuPaul's Drag Race was dubbed the "splashiest season in herstory," it only made sense for its 2025 Emmys campaign event to be a pool party.

The top six queens — winner Onya Nurve, runner-up Jewels Sparkles, Sam Star, Lexi Love, Suzie Toot, and Lana Ja’Rae — reunited on Friday for a panel discussion and meet-and-greet with Television Academy members. They were joined by executive producer Randy Barbato, co-executive producer and resident judge Michelle Visage, and choreographer and guest judge Jamal Sims. Actress and Drag Race superfan Leslie Jones moderated the Q&a at the Skybar pool at the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood.

One of the themes of the evening was drag vs. politics, with Visage declaring, "In this climate, we need to be louder. We need to be gayer than ever before." The queens also talked about why the art of drag is so important right now, especially with...

While today’s LGBTQ youth may not necessarily appreciate just how easy it is for for their generation to be openly queer, that expected acceptance has not always been the standard.

In honor of Pride Month this June, World of Wonder has teamed up with ABC News to create the documentary “Late to the Party: Coming Out Later in Life” in order to help tell the stories of older folks who were not afforded the luxury of being out of the closet from a young age. Ahead of Friday night’s airing, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” executive producer Randy Barbato told TheWrap all about why this doc is so crucial at this point in history.

“The value of visibility is more important now than ever. I think that with the ongoing cultural changes we’re experiencing now, the topic is even more important,” he shared. “Every coming out story has a...

Exclusive: Cinetic Media, the preeminent talent management and media advisory company founded by John Sloss, has made three additions to its team, hiring David Karp as a senior manager, Andrea Wax as a manager, and Noah Stahl as a producer.

The trio joins Cinetic at a critical juncture in the growth of the company’s talent management practice, which already reps an award-winning group of writer and director multi-hyphenates, producers, and emerging talent. Going forward, they intend to aggressively pursue growth objectives, with additional manager hires to be announced in the coming months.

“David, Andrea and Noah bring a breadth of experience and talent to Cinetic at a critical moment in the company’s growth,” said Cinetic CEO Sloss. “There is a lot of chatter about how our industry is contracting, but, contrary to that sentiment, we at Cinetic look at the global marketplace and see nothing but storytelling opportunity.

Oscar-winner Mstyslav Chernov’s “2000 Meters To Andriivka” will compete for the Tim Hetherington Award at this year’s Sheffield Doc/Fest.

The six-day British doc festival begins on June 18 and includes a program of 116 films (82 features and 34 shorts) selected from over 2753 entries. The lineup features 51 world premieres, 16 international premieres, eight European premieres, and 39 UK premieres from 68 countries.

About a group of soldiers fighting their way through two kilometers of war-torn terrain to liberate a devastated Ukrainian village, Chernov’s “2000 Meters To Andriivka” debuted at Sundance 2025. It is one of several feature films about Ukraine heading to the 32nd Sheffield Doc/Fest, which announced its full lineup Wednesday.

Two Ukraine-based docs – Yegor Troyanovsky’s “Cuba & Alaska” and Mila Teshaieva and Marcus Lenz’s “Shards of Light” are vying for the Grand Jury prize in the Sheffield’s International Competition category. In “Cuba & Alaska,” phone and body-cam footage tell the...

World of Wonder (Wow) founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato – two of the most successful creators in the documentary and unscripted spaces – have been named Guests of Honor at the upcoming Sheffield DocFest.

The Emmy-winning executive producers of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and directors of documentaries The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Inside Deep Throat, Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures, fact-based drama Party Monster (starring Macauley Culkin and Seth Green), and many other films, will be honored at the cinematic event that runs from June 18-23 in the north of England. Sheffield DocFest, the U.K.’s leading documentary festival, has programmed a 20th anniversary special screening of Inside Deep Throat, which investigated the notorious porn classic starring Linda Lovelace. DocFest calls the film “thought-provoking and hugely entertaining.”

In addition, the festival will preview the first episode of Murder in Glitterball City, the upcoming HBO docuseries directed by Bailey and Barbato. “The...

The Sheffield DocFest will feature producers and directors Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the co-founders of production company World of Wonder (Wow), who have been behind the likes of RuPaul’s Drag Race, as this year’s guests of honor, screening several of their films and TV series.

Among the programming in tribute to the duo, the U.K. festival will feature an exclusive preview of the first episode of HBO’s upcoming Murder in Glitterball City, which they directed. The DocFest will also include a session called “Ronan Farrow in Conversation: From Podcast to Screen,” in which organizers say the “Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author, and broadcaster Ronan Farrow joins us virtually for a rare and revealing conversation about adapting podcasts into TV series,” which will be hosted by his long-time collaborators Bailey and Barbato.

In addition, the duo will explore the past, present, and future of their careers in an “In Conversation” event,...

Exclusive: Daniel Lombroso, the journalist and director who helped build the Oscar-nominated video departments of The New Yorker and The Atlantic, has teamed with veteran comedy producer Kerry Mack to launch new documentary production company Outerboro Films.

Based in Brooklyn, the studio will focus on stories that go inside the fringe to capture the absurdity of modern American life. Its first feature out of the gate is You’ll Be Happier, a doc on the world of male penis enlargement, with the backing of executive producers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato of World of Wonder, as well as EPs Penny Lane, Gabriel Sedgwick, and Marcus Gershenberg, and the production company Madhouse Films.

Following a gay Texas businessman striving to make penis enlargement as common as Botox, You’ll Be Happier is currently in post and will be ready for a 2026 festival run.

While the real Kennedy Center may have been gutted and set on fire recently, the “Kennedy Davenport Center Honors” have crystallized into their very own short-form comedy series coming to Wow Presents Plus later this year.

Inspired by the iconic “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” Season 7 Hall of Shade roast challenge, the show will feature fan-favorite runner-up Kennedy Davenport “honoring everyone and everything she loves and loves to hate!”

Wow co-founders and “Drag Race” executive producers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato announced the new series onstage at the 2025 Nab Show in Las Vegas on Monday. It will be directed and edited by Ron Hill and Jeff Maccubbin, who famously worked their editing magic on “UNHhhh” with Katya and Trixie Mattel.

“Kennedy Davenport is a true ‘Drag Race’ legend. She has delivered so many iconic moments and we felt 2025 was the perfect time to give her her own platform,” Bailey and Barbato teased,...

Liza Minnelli will receive the Giving Us Lifetime Achievement Award on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 finale.

The Egot winner will be honored April 18 with the award, to be presented by RuPaul himself, that recognizes individuals who have made a significant impact on the world of drag and fashion.

Minnelli joins Bob Mackie from Season 15 and Cassandra Peterson, known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, from Season 16 as the third LGBTQ icon to be honored with the award.

Minnelli‘s memoir, set for release in 2026 via Grand Central Publishing, has been optioned as a TV series by Warner Bros. TV and Magnolia Hill. The memoir explores her journey as an artist, as well as her triumphs and struggles and unique perspective on Hollywood history. It also focuses on the impact of Substance Use Disorder (Sud) on Minnelli’s life. The tome is the result of more than 15 years of recorded...

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” may currently be airing its 17th season, but as its Emmy-winning host says in one of her most iconic songs: This is just the beginning.

In fact, executive producers and World of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato told TheWrap they have Broadway dreams for the reality TV show mainstay while celebrating the 1,000th performance of “RuPaul’s Drag Race Live!” in Las Vegas.

“A lot of the creative team from ‘Drag Race’ has brainstormed and put this show together and it became clear that it should be like watching the show,” Barbato said. “That’s what we wanted to do, recreate that experience. Early on in the show we were figuring out all different iterations of ‘Drag Race’ just to grow it.”

“The growth and the creative explorations of the Vegas show have a lot to do with the cast,” he continued, to which Bailey elaborated,...

RuPaul's Drag Race Live has been serving Las Vegas realness since 2020. Five years (and countless tucks) later, the concert residency celebrated its 1,000th performance on Sunday, and a chorus of queens from MTV's RuPaul's Drag Race commemorated the occasion by strutting their stuff on the pink carpet. The Queen of Drag herself, RuPaul Charles, also made a surprise appearance.

The immersive stage show takes place nightly at the Flamingo Showroom at the Flamingo Hotel. The cast is constantly changing to allow for new contestants, with the current lineup consisting of Jaida Essence Hall, Morphine Love Dion, Ginger Minj, Asia O'Hara, and Plane Jane.

The top six queens from Season 17 were also in attendance at the live show: Suzie Toot, Sam Star, Lana Ja'Rae, Jewels Sparkles, Onya Nerve, and Lexi Love. One day earlier, this sextet sashayed around the strip, posing at the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign and the...

Five years ago, almost to the day, the world collectively shut down. That meant the future of thousands of television and film productions and live productions were up in the air. In Las Vegas, a city whose lifeblood is human interaction, the closure of casinos and performing venues put the future of many livelihoods in peril. Just six weeks before, “RuPaul’s Drag Race Live: Vegas Revue” opened on the Las Vegas Strip to a star-studded premiere.

Continue reading Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato On ‘Drag Race Live’ Thriving Against “Bull***t” Political Headwinds at The Playlist.

A new season of Drag Race Philippines is on the way – sort of!

Wow Presents Plus just announced a new series in the international Drag Race franchise – Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale, which will be a new twist on the “Vs the World” format.

Keep reading to find out more…

Slaysian Royale will see queens return from across the Asian queens from Drag Race franchises, of course, including from the past three seasons of Drag Race Philippines.

“This new version of Drag Race shines a spotlight on Asian drag as never before, celebrating its culture, its history and creativity in a unique battle royale,” producers and co-founders of World of Wonder Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato shared in a statement.

Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale is set to debut exclusively on Wow Presents Plus later this year!

Past winners of Drag Race Philippines include the most recent, Maxie (season three...

The producers behind “RuPaul’s Drag Race” are ready to pay tribute to late U.K. Series 1 winner The Vivienne two months after her tragic death at age 32.

World of Wonder has entered production on a documentary entitled “Dear Viv,” which will celebrate the life and legacy of performer James Lee Williams with the blessing of his family and friends.

“We want to celebrate The Vivienne’s extraordinary life and work so everyone can experience her incredible talent, sass and enormous heart,” WoW co-founders and executive producers Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey said in a Wednesday statement. “Although her stay here on Earth was far too brief, it is with tremendous admiration and affection that we share her legacy in ‘Dear Viv.’”

The doc will feature archival footage, personal messages from fans, and interviews with loved ones and fellow “Drag Race” icons Baga Chipz, Michael Marouli and Danny Beard.

“It is...

Exclusive: The team behind Drag Race is making Dear Viv, a documentary celebrating the life and legacy of James Lee Williams, Aka British drag icon The Vivienne.

Williams was found dead in their bathroom this January. An inquest into their death has been adjourned until June.

World of Wonder is producing Dear Viv with the blessing of Williams’ family and friends. It will have archive footage and intimate interviews with loved ones and fellow Drag Race contestants Baga Chipz, Michael Marouli & Danny Beard, as well as excerpts of personal letters from fans.

The Vivienne won the first-ever series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019 and made many appearances on stage and screen, including in RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in 2022 as well as ITV competition show Dancing On Ice in 2023. In theater, The Vivienne played the Wicked Witch of the West in a 2024 touring production of The Wizard of Oz.

The creative team behind RuPaul’s Drag Race World of Wonder announced Monday that the Las Vegas variety show will broadcast live this month in celebration of the 1,000th performance of “RuPaul’s Drag Race Live.” The special will feature former Drag Race stars and resident cast members like Season Seven runner-up Ginger Minj, Season 12 winner Jaida Essence Hall, and Asia O’Hara. Rupaul’s Drag Race All Stars winner Kylie Sonique Love, Morphine Love Dion, and Plane Jane will also join them, along with surprise guests.

“Our 1,000th performance confirms that ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race Live!

Wow Presents Plus will celebrate the 1,000th performance of “RuPaul’s Drag Race Live” with a special broadcast from Las Vegas as part of a standalone special.

The global broadcast of the performance will begin at 9:30 p.m. Pt on March 15.

The Las Vegas stage show, which premiered in 2020 at the Flamingo Hotel, features a rotating cast of past competitors from across the “Drag Race” franchise. Set to perform in the 1,000th show special are the residency’s current cast members, Asia O’Hara, Ginger Minj, Jaida Essence Hall, Kylie Sonique Love, Morphine Love Dion and Plane Jane, alongside surprise guests.

In a statement to Variety, World of Wonder co-founders and “Drag Race” producers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato said, “Our 1,000th performance confirms that ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race Live!’ is a must-see experience worthy of Vegas’s iconic strip. It is a testament to the charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and...

Unscripted real estate television series traditionally welcome viewers into seemingly unblemished homes. There’s no peeling paint, mismatched furniture or structural issues. Instead, residences get a glow up — as does the buying and selling process. Much like “The Bachelor” franchise’s heavily produced search for love staged for maximum drama, reality real estate shows feature gloss (Celebratory champagne open houses and closings! Designer interiors! Stunning architecture! Fashion-plate agents!) minus airtime for the unsexy, less visually appealing nuts-and-bolts of negotiations and financing.

Is the view unrealistic? Ryan Serhant, of Manhattan-based brokerage Serhant and Netflix’s “Owning Manhattan,” exec-produced by World of Wonder’s Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey, doesn’t think so. He says his show is “the most authentic and real portrayal of the real estate brokerage business that has ever been on television.”

He pitched Netflix and the production company to follow him and several camera-ready Serhant agents for...

World of Wonder has renewed Drag Race México for Season 3 and has confirmed the premiere date for RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 6.

“The dream of Drag Race México has been a long time coming. Fans lobbied hard for years, and when the show launched, their support and engagement was total euphoria. The artists in the show and the audience’s love for them embody everything Drag Race should be,” said World of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato. “

Bailey and Barbato continued, “After the runaway success of Seasons 1 and 2, we are thrilled to announce Season 3. Through their bedazzling creativity and diverse talents, the queens of Mexico serve a feast of pure joy.”

Related: ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’ Season 9 Crowns Winner

Drag Race México premiered on World of Wonder’s streaming platform Wow Presents Plus. The Mexican version of RuPaul’s Drag Race saw a 40% increase in viewership over its first season.

With the “Drag Race México” Season 2 finale upon us, the show has already been greenlit for a third installment.

World of Wonder, the multi-platform media company behind the global “Drag Race” franchise, re-upped the show following the success of its second season, which garnered a 40% increase in viewership over its first season.

“The dream of ‘Drag Race México’ has been a long time coming. Fans lobbied hard for years, and when the show launched, their support and engagement was total euphoria. The artists in the show and the audience’s love for them embody everything ‘Drag Race’ should be,” said World of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato. “After the runaway success of Seasons 1 and 2, we are thrilled to announce Season 3. Through their bedazzling creativity and diverse talents, the queens of Mexico serve a feast of pure joy.”

“Drag Race México’s” Season 2 finale will see the top four queens Eva Blunt,...

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is back for Season 6 with 12 new queens competing for the title of the UK’s Next Drag Superstar.

The hopeful drag queens will embark in a ten-week competition that includes a variety of spicy challenges and iconic games designed to test their drag mettle, with the winner of the week being awarded a coveted RuPeter badge, and the bottoms of the week facing a lip sync for their life and the risk of elimination.

Handpicked by RuPaul, this year’s cast of twelve gorgeous drag queens represent a heady mix of charisma, uniqueness, nerve, talent, and accents with queens from across the Nations – Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and England coming together.

Related: ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Renewed For Season 17 At MTV; Paramount+ Picks Up ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’ For Season 10

RuPaul, affectionately known as Mama Ru, leads an esteemed judging panel that includes regular judges,...

Fans have two questions about Owning Manhattan Season 2.

Is it happening? When is it coming out?

Netflix has struck gold more than once in the realm of high-end real estate reality television. Owning Manhattan was no exception!

And now, we’re happy to report that the show will be returning to the streamer – and we even have some news about the cast!

Ryan Serhant visits the SiriusXM Studios on July 17, 2024. (Photo Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images) Netflix rolled out another hit

Owning Manhattan follows Ryan Serhant and his real estate agents at Serhant. Serhant (the person) of course starred for years on Million Dollar Listing New York.

Clearly a kindred spirit to Selling Sunset, this series follows luxury real estate properties in a place with more skyscrapers and much better weather: Manhattan.

Thus far, the show’s only critics seem to be folks who either don’t like reality TV...

The RuPaul’s Drag Race universe just got extended with new series orders.

While launching RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars, MTV and Paramount+ have ordered more RuPaul’s Drag Race, RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: Untucked.

That means RuPaul’s Drag Race is headed to a 17th season on MTV. After initially bowing on Logo back in 2009, Drag Race has since expanded internationally, too, with local editions in the U.K., Canada and Australia featuring local “queens” and runway challenges.

RuPaul’s Drag Race, MTV’s signature reality competition series, and its spinoffs are all produced by World of Wonder Productions. RuPaul executive produces Drag Race with World of Wonder’s Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.

Also returning with a new season order is the Emmy-winning after-show RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked. The latest extension of the Drag Race empire follows RuPaul receiving his...

RuPaul’s DragCon LA 2024 has officially begun! Earlier today, the cowboy hat-wearing RuPaul Charles opened the festivities at the Los Angeles Convention Center with the ceremonial cutting of the pink ribbon. “Fabulous! Have a good time. I love you,” the Queen of Drag told his adoring crowd while still holding the enormous pink scissors. RuPaul’s co-producer and co-judge Michelle Visage stood beside him, and they were flanked by dozens of drag queens from the American version of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” plus many other worldwide installments. Watch the ribbon cutting video below:

#DragCon LA 2024 is officially Open!! pic.twitter.com/vC36ZjOcEP

— aehdy #TeamEvaLeQueen (@dragreines) July 19, 2024

Once again, the convention’s festivities are presented by World of Wonder Productions and its co-founders, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato. This year’s theme is the “hottest ever” … and we’re assuming that refers to the sizzling talent that’ll be on-hand rather than the California weather.

Within 15 minutes, “Owning Manhattan” star Ryan Serhant has received 21 job applications from people wanting to join his luxury real estate company, Serhant. “The Netflix effect is real,” he says eating a late lunch over Zoom.

In its first week on Netflix, the show was viewed more than 512 million minutes. The effect? He has seen an uptick in applications as realtors express an interest in wanting to join the company. “Go to serhantready.com and fill in the form properly,” Serhant says as he mentions an ever-expanding folder on his desktop of potential candidates.

Set in New York City, the eight-part series follows the inner workings of the company founded by Serhant. The series was executive produced by World of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.

The show anchors itself more in the real-time listing, sales and even losses. But it is not without drama as his team of agents...

Paramount+ has set the premiere date and cast for RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars, in which 12 drag queens compete for the title of “Queen of the Mothertucking World.”

Starting Friday, August 16, twelve fan favorites will compete with queens from around the world for a grand prize of $200,000 and a spot in the international pavilion at the Drag Race Hall of Fame.

Related: ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars’ Season 1 Trailer & Full List Of Guest Judges: Danna Paola, Graham Norton, Adriana Lima & More

“The world is not ready for RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars,” host and executive producer, RuPaul. “Twelve queens representing their home countries raises the stakes to a whole new level. Plus, the international mix of charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent will, pardon my French, blow your f***ing minds.”

Related: ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ USA Season Winners: Photo Gallery Including ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race...

The world’s largest celebration of drag culture is just days away, so get ready to sashay your way to the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The 2024 edition of RuPaul’s DragCon LA will take place over two days: Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20. Once again, it’s presented by World of Wonder Productions and its co-founders, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato. This year’s theme is the “hottest ever” … and we’re assuming that refers to the sizzling talent that’ll be on-hand rather than the California weather.

Attendees of RuPaul’s DragCon LA will be able to experience signings, meet and greets, photo opps, mainstage performances, a DJ set with RuPaul Charles (Friday only), 300 unique vendors for shopping and merchandise, and more. Judges Michelle Visage and Ts Madison will also appear, as well as “pit crew” model Bruno Alcantara and celebs like Daniel Franzese and Yamil “Yam Yam” Arocho.

To be lured back from his hiatus from the reality TV universe after 10 seasons on Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing: New York, NYC-based celebrity broker Ryan Serhant knew he wanted to do something different. “I didn’t want to make Million Dollar Listing: New York 2.0, or a spinoff of Selling Sunset, which has its own distinct style,” he says. “So, we’ve created a concept of elevated reality.”

The new concept, Owning Manhattan, launched Friday on Netflix. In many ways, it feels soothingly similar to the slew of other popular real estate reality fare like Selling Sunset and Buying Beverly Hills: luxury listing porn, feuding peacocking agents, high-stakes sales. But with its soaring orchestra score, documentary-style filmmaking and Serhant’s outsized, time-tested personality, it offers a polished, insider’s look into Serhant’s new real estate agency, named, of course, Serhant.

“Ryan gives good TV because he is good TV,...

The Critics Choice Association (Cca) presented the inaugural Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television, hosted by Sherry Cola, during Pride Month on Friday, June 7, 2024 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, CA. The show will stream on June 21st on HereTV, the first and largest LGBTQ+ TV and streaming service in the USA.

The celebration honored the finest achievements from the LGBTQ+ entertainment community, both in front of and behind the camera, as well as showcased emerging and established talent. This event marked the newest addition to the Cca’s series of Celebrations. The Celebrations aim to shine a light on work from historically underrepresented talent.

Sponsors of the event included: Delta Air Lines, Fairmont Century Plaza, Fiji Water, Here Media, Milagro Tequila, Nep Sweetwater, and Starz.

Who:

Host Sherry Cola; Honorees Abe Sylvia (Showrunner Award), Carl Clemons-Hopkins (Supporting Performance Award for Television – Series), Chris Perfetti (Breakthrough Performance Award for...