Paris-based “soft-adult” animation shop Bobbypills (Creature Commandos, Vermin, The Wakos) is kicking off production on its first feature film, Jim Queen and the Quest for Chloroqueer. The comedy adventure, described as “a gay film with a straight plot,” is hoped by the producers to provide much-needed, queer-led heroic levity to these trying times.
Bobbypills will crowdsource support with a Kickstarter campaign launching in June, tied to Pride Month. The studio plans to launch a teaser trailer on May 12.
Synopsis: Can you explain the difference between a touchdown and a touchback? Have you ever willingly taken part in a conga line at a wedding? Do you own at least one sleeveless puffer vest? If so, you might be infected with Heterosis — a mysterious new virus turning people into… straights!
But don’t panic! Help is on the way: Jim Perfect, Paris’ biggest gay influencer, is on a quest to find a cure and save the LGBTQIA+ community from extinction in Jim Queen and the Quest for Chloroqueer.
The project is directed by Marco Nguyen & Nicolas Athané, and written by Simon Balteaux, Nguyen, Athané and Brice Chevillard. Produced by Bobbypills, Jim Queen is co-produced with Umedia (Under Paris, How to Make a Killing, The Count of Monte-Cristo), and distributed by The Jokers Films (Parasite, The Book of Solutions, The Handmaiden, The Neon Demon).
The film’s voice cast includes Alex Ramirès (Quotidien, Encore vous?), Jeremy Gillet (Ordinary People, Mytho), Shirley Souagnon (Spiral, Jamel Comedy Club), François Sagat (Man at Bath by Christophe Honoré, 2017 GayVN Award for Best Actor), rising star Harald Marlot, a.k.a. Jerrie FK (Three Nights a Week), and acclaimed voice actress Elisabeth Wiener (French dub voice of Meryl Streep, Glenn Close and Jamie Lee Curtis).
Following an ambitious development phase — supported by grants from CNC, Eurimages and several regional funds — production officially kicked off on April 18 under the benediction of the Paris convent of the gay rights activist group Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, founded in San Francisco in 1979. Bobbypills’ studios in Paris and Angoulême, alongside partners Gao Shan and Waooh!, are working to deliver the film by Spring 2026.
As the studio states in its announcement: “In a time of rising social and political tensions, Bobbypills is proud to champion a bold, inclusive project — one that uses laughter to challenge prejudice and celebrates the diversity of modern society. With its first theatrical feature, the studio reaffirms its commitment to produce daring, high-quality works to empower the voices of tomorrow’s popular culture.”
Learn more about Jim Queen and how to support the project at jimqueen.fr.
