Brandon Flynn Cast as James Dean in Biopic Exploring Alleged Romance

Brandon Flynn, known for his roles in "13 Reasons Why" and "True Detective," has been cast to portray James Dean in the upcoming biopic "Willie and Jimmy Dean," directed and written by Guy Guido. The film is based on William Bast's 2006 memoir "Surviving James Dean," which explores the rumored secret gay romance between Bast and Dean, who met as roommates at UCLA's theater program and maintained a private relationship alongside Dean's public romances with women. Director Guy Guido describes the film as a tender and tragic story that deviates from traditional biopics by focusing on how being truly seen came at a cost during that era, emphasizing the complexities of Dean's life beyond his iconic status. Flynn expressed enthusiasm about the role, noting that the script aims to reveal the real James Dean, highlighting Hollywood's historical pressure on LGBTQ individuals to perform even in their personal lives. The story covers the time from Dean and Bast's first meeting until Dean's untimely death in a car accident at age 24 in 1955. This project seeks to humanize Dean by portraying his multifaceted relationships and the challenges he faced in a less accepting time.