HBO has confirmed Brandon Flynn—best known for 13 Reasons Why—will portray James Dean in the upcoming biopic Willie and Jimmy Dean, based on William Bast’s 2006 memoir Surviving James Dean. Directed and written by Guy Guido, the film explores Dean’s private romance with Bast during their UCLA years, marking a first on-screen depiction of the actor’s little-known same-sex relationship.
Officially titled Willie and Jimmy Dean, the project draws from Bast’s memoir, chronicling Dean and Bast’s bond from their UCLA meeting through Dean’s tragic death in 1955. The storyline emphasizes their hidden romance—Dean’s public façade contrasted with his private truth—set against the strictures of 1950s Hollywood.
Guy Guido describes it as “not a traditional biopic”, but a “tender and sometimes tragic story about two young men who found each other…where being seen—truly seen—came at a cost”
Casting & Representation
Brandon Flynn (31) takes on the role of Dean, praised for bringing both “fire and vulnerability” to embody the actor’s complex identity.
Flynn steps into a dual role, also serving as executive producer, shaping the film’s emotional tone.
The cast also includes portrayals of William Bast and his mother, Bee, who urged Bast to share the truth after Dean’s death.
The project is currently in production, following Guy Guido’s completion of the screenplay. No release date has been announced yet. The film continues casting remaining roles for Bast and Bee.
