Red, White & Royal Blue fans are absolutely losing it at first images of the famous cake moment
The White House meets British royalty in our first look at Prime Video’s upcoming adaptation of Casey McQuiston BookTok sensation Red, White & Royal Blue.
Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez looked to have created on-screen magic with their portrayal of the trans-continental love story between Prince Henry and the First Son of the United States, Alex Claremont-Diaz.
As anticipation builds for Red, White & Royal Blue – due to drop in August – first movie stills have sent the devoted fandom into a frenzy as they show some of the book’s most-loved moments.
The first look features seven photos, giving us a glimpse of both Henry and Alex and the supporting cast, including Uma Thurman as the first female President of the United States and Prince Henry’s sister Princess Bea (Willow‘s Ellie Bamber).
We also meet Malcolm Atobrah as Henry’s rich best friend Percy Okonjo, Love, Victor‘s Rachel Hilson as Alex’s confidante Nora Holleran and Sarah Shahi as deputy chief of staff Zahra Bankston. Other cast members include Stephen Fry.
Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex and Uma Thurman as his mother, the president. (Jonathan Prime)
But the photo that has put RW&RB lovers everywhere into a chokehold is of the notorious cake scene that kicks off the entire plot. In the novel, long-time rivals Alex and Henry cause an international scandal after falling into crown prince Phillip’s wedding cake during a fight which forces them to fake a friendship to avoid tabloid gossip – and that eventually leads to them falling in love. Awwww!
Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Henry (L) and Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex Claremont-Diaz in the famous scene. (Jonathan Prime)
And the coveted image truly lives up to the moment, with both smothered in cake and looking completely nonplussed.
https://twitter.com/616JOHNNYST0RM/status/1668261476308582408?s=20
Screaming. Crying. Throwing up. Vomiting all over the floor. #rwrb #redwhiteandroyalblue pic.twitter.com/e8SM7ZNorb
— Yara (@Eran_draws) June 12, 2023
OH MY GOD RED WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE PHOTOS HAVE BEEN RELEASED, THIS LOOKS SO GOOD
KDDKSJJSJSKS THE CAKE SCENE pic.twitter.com/OJU3H95bsh
— vic in her c² brainrot (@EDDIESKRAKEN) June 12, 2023
The cake scene?! Oh they were committed to make a mess
https://t.co/34qzJXGsDD
— hunter maisel⋆ (@ThatOnePoes) June 12, 2023
Speaking to Glamour, Galitzine opened up about the easy chemistry between him and Perez. “Taylor and I have this level of insincerity with each other. We have this public [banter] with each other, but privately we’re really, really close mates.
“That’s kind of Alex and Henry in a lot of ways, egging each other [on] and pushing each other’s buttons. Taylor and I spoke the same language, had the same humour. You need to have a partner in crime to embody these roles, and I think it’s so palpable when co-stars don’t have the chemistry [that we do.]”
Another scene from Red White & Royal Blue. (Jonathan Prime)
In another still we see the powerhouse friendship quartet (Henry, Pez, Nora and Alex) partying it up. However, much to the general dismay, fan-favourite novel character June (Alex’s sister) appears to have been cut from the film and reportedly merged into Nora’s character.
i will never forgive the writers for the red white and royal blue adaptation for getting rid of june… like wdym ALEX SISTER is not going to be a part of the movie
— nicky #ravimains7 (@buckleyofthe118) June 12, 2023
June Claremont Diaz in the Red White and Royal Blue movie pic.twitter.com/kobPLAaRrP
— Rhi
(@IRLCHAOSNORA) June 13, 2023
I’m really happy to see these first images of red, white and Royal blue
I’m screaming with excitement, the scene in the museum, the cake scene, Pez at the disco, it’s like bringing the book to life, I’m so happy
#redwhiteandroyalblue pic.twitter.com/di5r9CZ3BB
— Louis Frias
(@louisfriias) June 12, 2023
Nevertheless, we can’t forget the gorgeous night-time scene when Alex and Henry sneak into the Victoria & Albert Museum for a romantic moonlight rendezvous.
Tony-winning co-writer and director Matthew López revealed some behind-the scenes reasons why it was his favourite scene to shoot, taking place in the actual London museum.
“We arrived at 10pm and filmed until sunrise,” he said. “To have access to that museum at night without any other people around made you feel what Henry and Alex must have been feeling the night they go there together.
“What made it so special is that, for one of the first times in the shoot, it was just me, Taylor, and Nick working. No other actors, no background players. It’s a magical scene in the book, and it was a magical night for all of us.”
Fans need no reminding that the film is officially R-rated meaning there are definitely some horny moments ahead. Elsewhere in the interview, Perez and Galitzine spoke about working with intimacy co-ordinator Robbie Taylor Hunt to bring the sexy moments to life.
“There’s a musicality to intimacy,” Perez said. “There’d be lots of counting. Like, ‘1, 2, 3, 4, grab. 2, 3, 4, squeeze’. That’s what was going through my mind as we did it, to get it in your body.
“Once your body remembers it, you can let it go, the muscle memory is so strong. Then it’s just about getting your mind in the game.”
Galitzine added: “It’s a very vulnerable and trusting space. Taylor and I had to rely on each other because we really wanted to tell that story honestly and feel that we weren’t hindered by any of our own boundaries.
“It becomes a sort of wonderful choreography that all serves to facilitate these two young men who fall in love.”
no one touch me rn https://t.co/WGjR7RnrlN
— dior bradshaw (@diorsvision) June 12, 2023
I’m so excited. The book was sooo good. Representation matters!
https://t.co/1t4FBuDGTh
— zach (@zach2thebasics) June 12, 2023
Wait…. This actually looks just like what I saw in my head reading the book! Im so excited
#RWRBMovie https://t.co/M6hhpQDzYG
—
the og bone collector
(@notjordynl) June 12, 2023
gay ppl get bad movies too
https://t.co/XWChmtoryL
— elise | spider-verse spoilers (@bisexualcrises) June 12, 2023
i’m so sorry that my entire personality is going to become red white and royal blue in august, this has been your warning.
— holly
(@rubywadds) June 12, 2023
And as fans share their joy at seeing such a high-profile queer love story hit the screen, they are not the only ones. Perez explained his happiness at playing a “smart and passionate and flawed and hopeful” queer Latino character.
Galitzine, meanwhile, talked about the importance of telling a “heart-warming” LGBTQ+ story, because “not a lot of films like this are made”.
He continued: “I hope it resonates with everyone. I’ve been really touched to hear how widespread the book became and affected many people from many different backgrounds. I hope our movie can do the same because a lot of love went into it.”
Red, White & Royal Blue drops on Amazon Prime on 11 August.