TL;DR
- Benny Zielke stars in the new Scary Movie as a trans character.
- The film flips traditional comedy by respecting trans identities.
- Marlon Wayans included trans representation inspired by his own child.
- Zielke emphasizes the importance of safe spaces in comedy.
- The film aims to make light of misgendering, not punch down.
In a world where horror often meets humor, the latest installment of the Scary Movie franchise is raising eyebrows and breaking boundaries. Enter Benny Zielke, the fabulous trans actor who’s flipping the script on what it means to be a character in a comedy. As the sheriff’s son, Jess, Zielke is here to remind us that trans people are never the butt of the joke.
In the first trailer, we see a young person on the subway getting stabbed, and the onlooker shouts, “He stabbed her!” to which the victim retorts, “Not her! My pronouns are ‘they/them.'” Now, some might cringe at the thought of jokes about misgendering, but Zielke reassures us that this film is a safe space for trans viewers. “Honestly, I had the same kind of fear when I got the full script,” Zielke shares. “But truthfully, I do not think that they are punching down. They’re making fun of those who can’t accept trans people, not the trans people themselves.”
With a nod to the franchise’s raunchy roots, Zielke insists that the humor is not mean-spirited. “It’s about showing how ridiculous it is when people misgender us. Just call me by my name, use the pronouns I tell you. It’s not so serious, everybody!” And that’s a message we can all get behind.
But it’s not just about the jokes. Marlon Wayans, who co-wrote and stars in the film, has a personal connection to the character of Jess. He created the role inspired by his own trans child, Kai, and wanted to showcase a father’s journey of acceptance. “It’s about humanizing the experience rather than just making fun of it,” Wayans explains. “We’re here to have a laugh, but also to spark conversations that matter.”
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Zielke recalls a pivotal moment on set when Wayans sat down beside him and said, “You know this is about my kid, right?” That kind of support made Zielke feel like family. “It was so important for him to provide trans representation that’s not a tragedy, but a comedy. If I had seen this kind of representation when I was coming out, it would have helped me immensely,” Zielke reflects.
For Zielke, this role marks a departure from previous experiences where trans characters often faced heavy, tragic narratives. “Every time I’ve played a trans character before, it was always in a heavy piece. This time, we’re the ones making the jokes!”
As Zielke continues to pave the way for more comedic roles, he’s also working on a trans-focused “found footage romance” film. “It’s about two artists, one cis and one trans, who unexpectedly fall in and out of love while sharing an art studio. It’s a different kind of story that needs to be told,” he shares.
So, for all the queer and trans viewers out there who are still on the fence about seeing Scary Movie, Zielke has one thing to say: “The team behind this movie is so supportive of the queer community. They want you to feel seen and to laugh. Come in and enjoy!”
Scary Movie is currently playing in theaters, and it’s about time we all get a good laugh while feeling represented. So grab your popcorn and get ready for a wild ride!