Autostraddle iconAutostraddleSep 28, 2026 ~6 min source read

Lili Reinhart Is Pushing for a Lesbian Vampire Adaptation — and Other Queer Pop Culture Notes

On the press tour for The Love Hypothesis, Reinhart made clear she wants more queer roles and is trying to adapt a lesbian vampire novella. Plus: casting updates, TV beats, and moments from recent awards and live performances that matter to queer viewers.

Lili Reinhart Wants To Adapt a Lesbian Vampire Novella — Let Her!

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Lili Reinhart is using her current press tour to advocate for queer roles and is actively trying to adapt a lesbian vampire novella, but says studios are hesitant.

Reporting connects Reinhart’s pitch to Carmilla adaptations, and the piece mentions other queer-leaning projects and moments across film, TV, sports entertainment, and the VMAs.

# Quick overview

On a press tour for The Love Hypothesis, Lili Reinhart reiterated that she's openly queer and said she's more interested in roles where the character is "a little gay." She also revealed she's trying to develop a film adaptation of a lesbian vampire novella and suggested Hollywood is "too afraid" to greenlight that kind of project.

Reinhart didn't name the specific novella but the coverage and conversation around her comments point to Carmilla as a likely inspiration, given the novella's long history of queer retellings. The piece situates her pitch alongside other recent queer casting and story developments across entertainment.

# Why this matters

Reinhart is a mainstream actor coming off a high-profile rom-com. Her public push for queer projects amplifies demand for stories that center lesbian and bisexual women, and it can help normalize such projects in mainstream funding conversations. Her explicit claim that studios are hesitant frames this as both a creative and business discussion about what gets made.

# Concrete items mentioned

  • Reinhart said she's "instantly way more interested in doing a movie if my character is a little gay," and that she's "a little gay."
  • She's pitching an adaptation of a lesbian vampire novella and believes Hollywood is reluctant to make it.
  • Medical drama Doc returned with a main character whose lesbian therapist best friend, Gina, appears on the show.
  • Canadian park-crime drama Anna Pigeon features two characters, Frieda and Christina, whose relationship is developing into something closer this season.
  • VMAs winners listed included Madonna, Ariana Grande, Cardi B (featuring Kehlani), and Olivia Rodrigo.
  • Queer figure skater Amber Glenn may be partnered with a man on Dancing with the Stars this season but continues to center queer moments, including performing to t.A.T.u.'s All the Things She Said.
  • Paula Cole spoke about coming out as bisexual and feeling seen by Melissa Etheridge.
  • Sophia Bush discussed her blended family role as a "bonus third mom" to Ashlyn Harris's children.
  • Dakota Johnson commented on making out with co-stars, including Anne Hathaway, in recent projects.
  • Real Housewives of New York added a queer stoner housewife to its cast.

# What to watch next

  • Any trade announcements or studio signings tied to Reinhart's vampire adaptation pitch.
  • How Carmilla retellings and other lesbian vampire stories perform when they get funded and released, given renewed interest.
  • The trajectory of Frieda and Christina on Anna Pigeon and representation beats on Doc and Dancing with the Stars.

# Bottom line

Lili Reinhart is using her current visibility to advocate for queer storytelling — specifically a lesbian vampire adaptation she's trying to get made — and the broader coverage collects a string of recent queer casting and cultural moments that indicate continued, if uneven, mainstream interest in lesbian and bisexual narratives.

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