Leslie Jordan may be gone, but his pet project “Ron” still lives on. Because two-time Grammy winner John Cameron Mitchell (“Shrill,” “The Sandman,” “Joe vs. Carole“) is assuming the lead role in Jordan’s stead. If we’re honest, we couldn’t think of a better person to take up the role. Mitchell, best known for his amazing stage-musical-then-movie-then-stage-musical-again “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” is a multi-talented artist. A singer-songwriter, director, writer, and actor- he’s the whole package with no small amount of charisma. Mitchell will star alongside comedienne Margaret Cho, from whom “Ron”‘s story comes.
“Ron” is based on Cho’s real childhood. And Leslie was thrilled to be able to take part. “‘Ron’ is a story inspired by all the gay men who babysat me as a kid and the sad music of their struggles I wrote about in my song Ron’s Got A DUI. This film is all about the challenge of growing up and knowing it’s never too late to become an adult just like it’s always ok to remain a child,” Cho said.
Sadly, we lost Leslie Jordan recently to sudden heart failure. Some of us are still feeling the sting of losing such a source of joy.
A Charming Coming-Of-Age Story
The story of “Ron” is a dramedy that centers around Lola, an eleven-year-old who is trying to navigate the difficulties of childhood. Babysitter Ron introduces Lola to the wonders of punk rock, MTV, and gives her an 8mm camera. Her assignment? Prove or disprove the existence of God by the end of the summer. Both Ron and Lola learn from one another. Apparently this occurs as Ron brushes up against the AIDS crisis. According to Cho, “Ron learns how to act his age from a kid who is just a fraction of it and Lola learns how to be a youngster from someone who really remembers. It’s a tale as old and as young as time we all want to get lost in.”
It sounds like a charming movie, and we absolutely know Leslie would have absolutely crushed it. But if we had to pick anyone to take his place, it’s John Cameron Mitchell. Someone who can deliver sass and sweetness in equal measure to rival Jordan’s own acting style.
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