RuPaul Theatrical Action Comedy Nabbed by Bleecker Street, Adam Shankman to Direct

RuPaul Theatrical Action Comedy Nabbed by Bleecker Street, Adam Shankman to Direct

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.

A synopsis from the producers reads: “The first-ever theatrical feature film project from the RuPaul’s Drag Race universe, it 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.”

There’s no word on whether the careening bullet train will allow for drag queen fashion and performance challenges typical of the Drag Race TV series. Connor Wright and Christina Friel penned the script for the drag queen disaster movie, set to begin production this fall in Los Angeles. Unapologetic Projects is financing and executive producing the project. 

“When they asked me to come aboard this hilarious and truly unhinged project, in a time so desperate for escapist entertainment and laughter, I couldn’t resist,” Shankman, who has known RuPaul for over three decades, said in a statement. World of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato will produce the movie along with Tom Campbell, RuPaul Charles and Shankman.

“Drag queens in charge of America’s first-ever hyperspeed, transcontinental, non-denominational bullet train. What could possibly go wrong?” Bailey and Barbato said in their own statement. “What the world needs now is a disaster movie so twisted it will blow your mind. We are delighted to welcome Bleecker Street and everyone aboard the most bonkers train in cinematic herstory,” they added as World of Wonder expands the Drag Queen legacy.  

The distribution deal was negotiated by Bleecker Street’s Miranda King and Avy Eschenasy, with Cinetic Media representing the filmmakers.