Michael Johnston, the breakout star of Obsession, has confirmed that an “incredibly queer” project is on the way. The openly gay actor says the role could offer the steamy, meaningful representation he once needed himself, while building on the screen work that helped him understand his own sexuality.

Essential Takeaways

  • A queer project is coming: Johnston says he’s excited to play a substantial LGBTQ+ role.
  • Representation matters: His earlier work helped him feel less alone while he was coming to terms with his sexuality.
  • Obsession changed his options: The horror hit’s success has given him more freedom to choose projects.
  • He wants intention, not labels: Johnston sees sexuality as part of a character, rather than the entire story.
  • Writing could be next: He’s suggested he might eventually create a queer story himself.

Michael Johnston’s next role could be his most personal yet

The biggest clue about Michael Johnston’s next move is also the most tantalising: he says it’ll be “incredibly queer” and that he’s looking forward to a steamy moment. For an actor whose profile has surged after Obsession, that sounds less like a throwaway tease and more like a clear statement of intent.

Johnston told Attitude that the upcoming project will give him the chance to play a queer story he’s genuinely excited about. Details remain under wraps, but the prospect has already caught the attention of fans who saw him become one of Obsession’s most talked-about performers. According to ComingSoon.net, the actor’s comments have fuelled plenty of curiosity around what comes next.

There’s a playful edge to the tease, but the ambition behind it is serious. Johnston isn’t simply chasing a romantic subplot. He wants a role with emotional weight, chemistry and the kind of visibility that can stay with viewers. [2], [4]

His earlier gay roles arrived before he was fully out

Before Obsession, Johnston played Corey Bryant in Teen Wolf and appeared in the queer drama Slash. Those projects landed during a complicated period in his personal life, when he was still working through his own sexuality.

He has since said that taking on gay characters helped shift the way he viewed himself. Rather than seeing his sexuality as something limiting, Johnston came to understand it as a source of empathy. That reflection gives his future plans a deeper context: these roles weren’t just career steps, they were part of his growing confidence.

His Teen Wolf experience has also resurfaced in recent coverage, with Just Jared reporting on how difficult that period could feel while he was still in denial. It’s a reminder that representation can work in quiet, unexpected ways, even when an actor isn’t yet ready to discuss their own identity publicly. [6], [7]

Why representation still carries real weight

Johnston has spoken about the simple relief of seeing gay people on screen while growing up. A character could offer proof that other lives existed beyond the narrow world he knew, and that he wasn’t alone in feeling different.

That’s the kind of audience connection he now hopes to create for someone else. It’s a modest-sounding goal, but anyone who’s searched a screen for recognition will know how powerful it can be. One well-drawn character can make a lonely bedroom feel a little less quiet.

Queerty’s coverage of Johnston’s rising popularity reflects how strongly queer viewers have responded to him since Obsession. The enthusiasm isn’t only about his looks or his sudden “scream king” appeal. It’s also about seeing an openly gay actor move towards roles with more agency and visibility. [3], [5]

From horror breakout to choosing his own path

Obsession appears to have changed Johnston’s career leverage. After the film’s strong box-office performance, he has spoken about being able to select projects more deliberately, rather than simply accepting whatever arrives first.

That freedom matters, particularly for actors who want to avoid being boxed into one type of role. Johnston has made clear that he doesn’t believe a character’s sexuality should define every scene or storyline. At the same time, he’s keen to play a project where queerness is handled with purpose, rather than treated as a decorative detail.

It’s a smart balance. Audiences want queer characters who are allowed to be funny, messy, sexy, frightened and ambitious, not just symbols of progress. Johnston’s comments suggest he’s looking for precisely that fuller range. [4], [6]

Could Johnston write the queer story himself?

There’s even a chance Johnston may eventually create the project he wants to see. He has floated the idea of writing a meaningful queer story himself, which could give him control over both the character and the world around them.

For now, the promised project remains mysterious. That may be frustrating for impatient fans, but it also leaves room for the role to arrive on its own terms rather than being reduced to a headline before filming begins.

The most encouraging part is that Johnston seems to understand the responsibility without losing the fun. He wants representation, but he also wants romance, heat and the freedom to let a gay character simply live. That’s a pretty good recipe for something worth watching. [2], [4]

A meaningful queer role could be Johnston’s most exciting chapter yet.

Source Reference Map

Story idea inspired by: [1]

Sources by paragraph: