The Spy Who Came Out Of The Closet

Here! Network is set to air a series of telefilms centered on a gay secret agent. Today's Variety reports that Shannon Doherty has joined the cast of Kiss Me Deadly: A Jacob Keane Assignment, described as "the first installment in a series of feature length thrillers set in the world of international espionage." A little digging turns up this press release, which reveals more plot details: "Jacob Keane ([Queer As Folk's Robert] Gant) is a photographer living the family life in Milan with his loving boyfriend, Paolo, and Julia, the daughter he shares with his lesbian friend, Kyra. When a young woman, Marta (Doherty), arrives from his past life, he is pulled back into the high-stakes world of international espionage. Together they must elude a mysterious enemy threatening to disrupt their now-quiet lives. Out actor Ian Roberts (Superman Returns) co-stars as the villainous Vigo, while John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings trilogy) plays the heroic Yale, a former colleague of Jacob and Marta." Rhys-Davies' extensive spy filmography, of course, includes a memorable role in The Living Daylights.

Too bad the producers of the new Kiss Me Deadly (no relation whatsoever to Mickey Spillane's novel or the Ralf Meeker film version) couldn't think up a title that hasn't already been (quite famously) used!