3 hours ago
Jordan Firstman Takes the Director's Chair: A Brooklyn Party Scene Reckoning Comes to the Big Screen
READ TIME: 3 MIN.
The entertainment industry is witnessing the emergence of a fresh directorial voice this year, and it's coming from someone already known for his work in front of the camera and on the page. Jordan Firstman, best recognized for his role as Malcolm in FX's comedy series "English Teacher, "is stepping behind the camera for his feature film directorial debut with "Club Kid, "a project he wrote himself. The film represents not just a career pivot, but a deeply personal creative endeavor that speaks to themes of identity, responsibility, and the possibility of transformation—narratives that resonate powerfully within LGBTQ+ communities.
"Club Kid" tells the story of a former fixture of Brooklyn's party scene who is grappling with addiction and the weight of his own choices. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when an unknown young son enters his life, forcing the protagonist to confront questions of responsibility, maturity, and what it means to build a life beyond the chaos of the club. It's a premise that speaks to a universal experience of reckoning with one's past, but one that carries particular resonance for queer audiences who have navigated the complex relationship between community spaces, self-discovery, and the sometimes-destructive patterns that can emerge when seeking belonging and escape simultaneously.
The film brings together a compelling ensemble cast that underscores Firstman's ambitions for the project. Cara Delevingne, the model and actress known for her roles in films like "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets"and her outspoken advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, joins Firstman in the cast. Delevingne's presence in the project carries its own significance; she has been a visible ally to the queer community throughout her career, using her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ equality and representation. Her participation in "Club Kid"suggests a filmmaker who is thinking carefully about the values and perspectives he wants represented both on screen and behind the scenes.
Diego Calva, who garnered critical acclaim for his performance in Damien Chazelle's "Babylon," "rounds out the principal cast. Calva's involvement brings an additional layer of artistic credibility to the project, signaling that this is a film with serious creative ambitions. The film also features performances from Eldar Isgandarov, Reggie Absolom, and Paris Petitjean, building out a cast that suggests Firstman is committed to assembling talented collaborators who can bring depth and authenticity to his vision.
Before stepping behind the camera for "Club Kid, "Jordan Firstman had already established himself as a multifaceted creative talent. His work on "English Teacher, "where he plays the character Malcolm alongside series creator and star Brian Jordan Alvarez, has earned him recognition in the comedy world. The show itself has become notable for its nuanced portrayal of queer characters and relationships, offering representation that feels authentic and layered rather than tokenistic. Firstman's involvement in that project likely provided valuable insight into the collaborative process of television production, even as his ambitions clearly extended to the feature film realm.
The transition from actor and television performer to writer-director is a significant one, and it speaks to Firstman's desire to tell stories that matter to him on his own terms. In the entertainment industry, queer artists often find themselves cast in roles determined by others'visions and commercial considerations. The opportunity to write and direct one's own project represents a form of creative autonomy that is particularly meaningful—it allows for a level of specificity, nuance, and personal truth-telling that may not be possible when working within existing structures.
The film is currently in post-production, with an expected release in 2026. This timeline places "Club Kid"among the anticipated releases in the coming year, and early industry interest suggests that the project has already generated considerable buzz. For queer audiences and LGBTQ+ film enthusiasts, the prospect of a queer-centered directorial debut from an emerging voice in the industry carries particular significance. Feature films that center queer narratives, especially those that explore complex themes of identity, community, and transformation, remain relatively rare in mainstream cinema, making each new project an opportunity for representation and cultural conversation.
