Comedian Jordan Firstman and stand-up star Matteo Lane will lead the English-language voice cast of "Jim Queen," the gay animated comedy that became a breakout hit at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Global Constellation will present this US-voiced version to North American buyers at the Toronto Film Festival, as the French film continues to build momentum internationally following its acclaimed Cannes premiere. The casting matters because it signals a concerted push to secure US distribution for a film that has already proven a commercial and critical success in France.

Firstman and Lane voice lead characters Jim and Lucien, joined by Nicole Byer, John Cameron Mitchell, Bob the Drag Queen and Wendie Malick. Directed by Marco Nguyen and Nicolas Athané and produced by adult-animation studio Bobbypills, "Jim Queen" follows a gym-honed gay icon whose status collapses when a fictional virus turns gay men straight. Since its French release on 17 June, the film has taken more than $3 million (370,000-plus admissions), opening at number three at the box office, and is set to roll out across more than 25 territories; US distribution rights remain under negotiation.