Queen Of The Universe Season 1 Release Date, Cast, And More Information
The latest season of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" may have finished in September, but they do not want you to sashay away just yet. Expanding on their already impressive "Drag Race" universe with several spinoffs already airing, World of Wonder, the production company behind the franchise, is announcing a new series: "Queen of the Universe." They're also hoping the fresh series, plus all previous seasons of the existing shows, will bring fans old and new to ViacomCBS' streaming service, Paramount+.
The original "RuPaul's Drag Race," featuring creator, host extraordinaire, and venerable queen of drag competition shows RuPaul Charles, premiered in 2009 on the niche cable network Logo. Since that intimate, small-budget beginning, the show grew and eventually moved to the VH1 network, which brought in a bigger, more mainstream audience. It aired its 13th season finale on April 13, and Season 14 has already begun filming. Multiple spinoffs helped grow its brand, including "Drag Race All Stars," "Drag Race Untucked," and "Secret Celebrity Drag Race," as well as versions in more than 70 countries, per The Guardian. It's credited for bringing drag culture to the mainstream.
Now, fresh off its history-making Emmy win, the "Drag Race" team is ready to jump into this new series, and hoping it will bring more subscribers to their nascent streaming service. Keep reading and we'll fill in the deets on this exciting new series.
What is 'Queen of the Universe'?
Like its parent show, "RuPaul's Drag Race," the new "Queen of the Universe" is also an unscripted reality competition show for drag performers. However, where lip-synching is a long-running tradition in the original, there's none of that in this new show. These drags have to actually be able to sing!
"Universe" is an international singing competition, kind of like a drag Eurovision Song Contest. Also produced by World of Wonder, this show brings together drag performers from all over the world to compete against each other for a global drag crown. According to Vulture, it's being promoted as "a singing competition like no other." And while the same is being said about Fox's new show "Alter Ego," it may well be true for both shows.
"With 'Queen of the Universe,' we are going global as we create the first annual international singing competition to finally answer the question which country has the best drag queen," said President of MTV Entertainment Chris McCarthy (per Futon Critic), while announcing the "All Stars" series' move to Paramount+. "'RuPaul's Drag Race' is a global phenomenon and we are thrilled to bring 'All Stars' to Paramount+ as we expand our reality offerings."
Drag performers have been a part of Eurovision history for years, including Austrian performer Conchita Wurst and Verka Serduchka from Ukraine. And if "Universe" promises performances like this, we can't wait to see it.
The 'Queen of the Universe' release date and cast
While announcing the return of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars," Paramount+ and MTV Entertainment Studios announced the new series, "Queen of the Universe." According to a May press release (via Futon Critic), the unique vocal competition is slated to premiere on December 2. The reality show promises "high heels, high octaves, [and] high competition" that "will blow your wig off," according to the official synopsis (per CBS8).
And who will we see on the cast? Will there be returning All Stars or only new queens? Well, it's too early to know that yet, as no official announcement has been made. But we know that casting for the show started in May, with an official call from Creative Content. "We're scouring the globe for super queens and glamazons who can sing!" the announcement reads. "Are you ready to show the world that your VOICE is as fierce as your DRAG? Do you have what it takes to be crowned QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE?"
Many drag queens have created and released their own original music and recordings, including RuPaul himself, who has 12 studio albums, starting with the 1993 debut "Supermodel of the World." Drag Race contestants Alaska, Katya, and Bob the Drag Queen have all released successful recordings (per Wiwibloggs), as well as All Stars Season 3 winner Trixie Mattel.
Where can you watch 'Queens of the Universe'?
Excited to get your glam on and watch? The most important question for all "Drag Race" fans is where can you watch the new series, "Queens of the Universe"? Well, some fans may not be happy about the answer.
If you were hoping to watch the new queens bring the drama and spill the tea for free, it likely won't be possible. While "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 13 reached a new height by simultaneously debuting on six different networks, including VH1 and Logo — likely contributing to its status as the most watched episode in the franchise's history, per Deadline — the series went from all to nothing, and alienated viewers in the process, by offering season 6 of "All Stars" exclusively on its streaming service, Paramount+.
And fans are not happy. When the increasingly popular "Drag Race" moved from VH1 to Logo after Season 8, both networks were part of the basic cable package, so it was easy for fans to follow, Screen Rant reports. The current change is not as easy, requiring not only attention, but money. Fans now must pay $10 a month to keep track of the drag competition. Also in jeopardy, fans feel, is the communal experience that made the show so popular, per Screen Rant. And both LGBTQ+ community members and bars struggling to rebound after the pandemic shutdown could benefit from the communal safe spaces provided by live viewings of the show.