Showtime has acquired rights to “Beyond the Aggressives: 25 Years Later,” a follow-up to director Daniel Peddle’s pioneering documentary about masculine-presenting people of color who were assigned female at birth.
A quarter of a century after 2005’s “The Aggressives,” the sequel catches up with four of the original subjects to see what has been going on in their lives since the first film. A press release describes the follow-up as “more than just a ‘where are they now’ and hears directly from the subjects about topics they’ve experienced, like being held in ICE detention, seeking gender-affirming care and starting their own families. The new chapter also delves into how much the language, culture and visibility of the trans community has evolved and grapples with many of the complexities around gender identity and representation.
“Beyond the Aggressives: 25 Years Later” will open in New York and Los Angeles on Nov. 17 to coincide with Transgender Awareness Week following the world premiere at NewFest in New York City on Oct. 18. It will premiere this spring on streaming and on demand for Showtime subscribers before making its on-air debut at a later date.
Showtime President and CEO Chris McCarthy praised the original film, which he says “documented a queer revolution and inspired a generation of young people.”
“In the vein of ‘7 Up’ and ‘Boyhood,’ ‘Beyond the Aggressives: 25 Years Later’ provides a powerful and unflinching look at the evolution of the original subjects as they navigate the universal struggles and joys of family, community and of finding your way,” he said in a statement.
Peddle, whose other credits include 2014’s “Sunset Edge” and 2017’s “Moss,” believes “film has an incredible power to change hearts and minds.”
“I witnessed this firsthand with ‘The Aggressives,’ a true labor of love that I never imagined would touch so many when I started shooting it 25 years ago,” Peddle said in a statement. “Our sequel, ‘Beyond The Aggressives’ celebrates the accomplishments and transformations of our participants while also reflecting on their continued struggles. The fact that this modest indie film has gained the support of such an acclaimed network as Showtime means more people will have the opportunity to see our humanizing approach.”
The film is directed by Peddle and produced by Wellington Love with executive producers Robert A. Maylor, Tiq Milan, Stephen Friedman, Jacqueline Woodson, Kristen Wolf and Gerald Herman. The film was edited by Yvette Wojciechowski with cinematography by Peddle and Jeanny Tsai and music by Aidan Salier.
Watch the trailer below:
