Michael Johnston has a particular reason to be excited about his next queer role. The Obsession star knows what it feels like to grow up believing that being gay is something to be ashamed of, which makes his latest career goal more personal than a simple casting announcement. He wants to tell a queer story that means something to him, and apparently, he wants a steamy moment thrown into the mix, too.
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“There will be a really incredible queer story in my future, and I’m so excited to play it and to have my steamy moment,” Johnston told Attitude.
The openly gay actor hasn’t revealed the project’s title, his character, or who might be sharing that anticipated screen time with him. But the interesting part isn’t just the promise of on-screen chemistry. It’s that Johnston is approaching his next chapter with a clearer idea of the stories he wants to tell.
After Obsession helped raise his profile, he has more room to be selective about what comes next. Rather than treating another queer role as just another job, he wants one that feels personal. That could make his next project worth watching for reasons that go well beyond a shirt coming off.
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Michael Johnston Knows Representation Can Reach People at the Right Time
Johnston’s interest in queer storytelling didn’t begin with Obsession. Years before audiences met him as Bear, the hopelessly romantic character at the center of Curry Barker’s film, he played Corey Bryant on MTV’s Teen Wolf from 2015 to 2017.
Corey was openly gay, but Johnston himself was still working through his sexuality. He has recalled receiving thousands of messages from viewers who connected with his performance, including people who said seeing the character helped them feel more comfortable with themselves and gave them the courage to come out to their parents.
michael johnston has a locker room makeout in teen wolf in case you forgot https://t.co/5ouRIUrJqR
— Most (@Most) June 16, 2026
That response showed him something he hadn’t fully appreciated while playing Corey. An actor doesn’t necessarily have to deliver a speech about acceptance or appear in a story explicitly designed to change lives to make a difference. Sometimes, a character simply existing on screen can give someone watching at home a little more room to imagine a future for themselves.
For Johnston, that experience also helped him understand his own identity differently.
“The impact that I made just from doing something that scared me and being brave… and not only that was really cool, but also kind of helped me learn how to accept myself, so that’s something I’m really looking forward to,” he said. “I don’t know, maybe I’ll write it myself.”
michael johnston in teen wolf https://t.co/GBq3LFmJmr
— michael johnston updates (@johnstonupdates) August 8, 2026
That last thought opens up an interesting possibility. Johnston may eventually get to help create the kind of queer story he wants to perform in, rather than waiting for someone else to put it in front of him.
Growing Up Gay Wasn’t Always Easy for the Obsession Star
In his Attitude cover interview, Johnston also spoke about growing up in a Southern Baptist family in North Carolina, where he learned that being gay was something to fear. He recalled realizing he was attracted to men at around 11 or 12. Instead of feeling free to explore those feelings, he said the religious messages he had absorbed made the realization frightening.
“It was the worst possible thing that could ever happen to me because all I had learned in church was that being gay was the worst thing that you could be, that you’d go straight to hell,” Johnston said.
He remembered thinking of himself as an “abomination” and trying to hide his sexuality, including dating a girl and avoiding behavior he feared might make him appear effeminate.
Moving to Los Angeles at 18 eventually helped him become more comfortable with himself. Acting also became part of that journey, with his early gay roles giving him opportunities to challenge the way he viewed his sexuality.
“I used to think it was a weakness, and now I think it’s a strength because it’s just made me more empathetic,” he said.
That history adds another dimension to his interest in playing a meaningful queer character. Johnston isn’t suggesting every gay role needs to reflect his personal experiences. Rather, he has firsthand experience with how stories can affect people who are still trying to understand themselves.
What’s Next for Michael Johnston?
Johnston’s career is moving beyond the role that introduced him to a wider audience this year. Following his performance in Obsession, he has also been in talks to join Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in the upcoming fourth installment of The Mummy.
Meanwhile, his promised queer project remains under wraps. There is no confirmed title or release date in his comments, so fans will have to wait for more details before adding it to their watchlists.
His next queer character could be a romance, a drama, or something entirely unexpected. We don’t yet know whether the promised steamy moment will involve a sweeping love confession, terrible decisions made by two beautiful men, or the sort of chemistry that makes viewers yell at their screens. What we do know is that Johnston wants the story to have substance.
And if he eventually decides to write it himself, even better. Queer audiences could always use another story made by someone who understands why seeing yourself on screen can matter. A little heat along the way certainly wouldn’t hurt.