Scottish-born Brazilian producer Daniel Dreifuss, whose credits include the Oscar and BAFTA-winning “All Quiet on the Western Front,” as well as the Oscar-nominated “No” by Chile’s Pablo Larrain (“Jackie,” “The Count”), has boarded the limited series adaptation of “A Boy’s Own Story,” the seminal 1982 novel by the late gay author Edmund White.
Dreifuss joins director John Krokidas (“Kill Your Darlings,” “Times Like These”) and executive producers Brian Alessandro and Michael Carroll, on the first-ever screen adaptation of White’s pioneering autobiographical novel, the first in a trilogy.
Alessandro and Carroll, White’s widower, had adapted the autobiography into a graphic novel for Top Shelf Productions in 2023, and have been co-developing the series pilot with Dreifuss.
According to Dreifuss, they will also take some creative liberties, drawing from the graphic novel particularly in areas where they move beyond the strictly youth-focused narrative of the book.
Daniel Dreifuss, Credit: Emma McIntyre
“’A Boy’s Own Story’ has shaped generations. It’s a landmark of queer literature and a mirror to decades of progress, struggle, and resilience. For so many, it wasn’t just a book, it was a lifeline, a reflection, a source of courage,” said Dreifuss.
“As we face a time when hard-won rights and identities are again under threat, it feels both urgent and deeply meaningful to bring Edmund White’s vision to new generations. I’m incredibly proud to be part of this extraordinary team and to collaborate with Michael and Brian, who bring such a deep personal connection to the material, and with John Krokidas, whose vision and heart are perfectly suited to realize ‘A Boy’s Own Story’ on screen,” he added.
The series follows Eddie Valentine, a young gay man as he embarks on an emotional and erotic journey. Set against the backdrop of 1950s Midwest repression, it traces his sexual awakening in New York City and the looming shadow of the AIDS crisis throughout the Reagan era. Part coming-of-age tale, part cultural time capsule, the narrative spans four decades, exploring the evolution of the American gay experience through Eddie’s search for self-understanding and connection.
White, who died on June 3 at the age of 85, was a towering figure in LGBTQ+ literature, with a legacy spanning more than 30 published works, including biographies, memoirs, and essays. In 1977, he co-authored The Joy of Gay Sex, a groundbreaking pre-AIDS guide to sexual practices and etiquette. Released at a time when such information was nearly impossible to find in mainstream America, the book made him both an instant inspiration and a controversial public figure.
His influence shaped generations of writers, such as Mona Simpson (“Anywhere but Here”), Gary Shteyngart (“Absurdistan,” “The Regime”), Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins (“Appropriate, Purpose”), Yiyun Li (“A Thousand Years of Good Prayers”), and Jeffrey Eugenides (“The Virgin Suicides”).
For 30 years, Carroll was a constant presence in White’s life; they were married for twelve of those years. His debut novel, “Little Reef,” won the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction and was followed by “Stella Maris and Other Key West Stories.”
Alessandro has written three novels – “The Unmentionable Mann,” “Performer Non Grata,” and “Julian’s Debut” – and has contributed to several publications, including Interview Magazine, Newsday, HuffPost, Kirkus and The Gay & Lesbian Review, among others. His feature film, “Afghan Hound,” is currently streaming on Amazon, Plex and Tubi.
Edmund White portrait by Brian Alessandro
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