by FIlmInk Staff<\/p>\n
Eschewing the paywalls of the current wave of vertical micro-dramas, this 24-episode scripted series brings a raw, domestic realism to the secret world of professional football.<\/p>\n
The intersection of professional sports and queer identity has never felt more topical in the Australian cultural zeitgeist. Following the recent, courageous news of former AFL players Mitch Brown and Leigh Ryswyk coming out, the conversation around the \u201clast frontier\u201d of the locker room is reaching fever pitch. Yet, as it stands in 2026, there remains a glaring absence of out male players currently active in Australia\u2019s premier footy league.<\/p>\n
Into this space steps Become The One, a 24-episode micro-drama that has just completed its rollout across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Based on Adam Fawcett\u2019s Playtime Award winning Midsumma Festival play, the series has been meticulously re-imagined for the vertical format, trading the stage\u2019s proscenium arch for the intimate frames of a smartphone.<\/p>\n
Produced by Lee Matthews\u2019 Different Films, the project marks a significant departure from the glossy fantasies often found on paywalled vertical streaming platforms. Instead, director Mel Killingsworth and cinematographer Stu Mannion have opted for \u201cnaturalistic intimacy\u201d \u2013 a domestic realism that feels more authentic and relatable than a soap opera.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe original play, as well as the script adapted for screen, give a wonderful depiction of both sides of a blossoming relationship. Tom and Noah go through plenty of ups and downs, where you can relate to the characters and truly understand both points of view,\u201d says director Mel Killingsworth. \u201cWe wanted to honour that script with the style; yes, there are fun times and sexy times, but we also seriously reflect real issues that queer people and high-performance athletes face.\u201d<\/p>\n
Central to the show\u2019s success are the performances of its two leads. Alexander Lloyd delivers a haunting, internalised performance as Tom, the closeted footy player navigating the collision of his career and his soul. Opposite him, Rhemy Ashton shines as Noah, the new lover who becomes a catalyst for Tom\u2019s self-reflection. Their chemistry is the series\u2019 engine, echoing the \u201cMainstream-meets-Queer\u201d success of properties like Rachel Reid and Jacob Tierney\u2019s Heated Rivalry, which proved there is a massive, hungry audience for authentic, high-stakes gay love stories.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the role, Lloyd noted the responsibility of portraying the duality of a modern athlete. \u201cIt\u2019s about that performance you have to give on the field versus the person you are when the door shuts,\u201d he says. Ashton adds, \u201cNoah isn\u2019t just a love interest; he\u2019s the mirror Tom hasn\u2019t been able to look into for a decade. Playing that shift in a vertical frame makes every look and every breath feel massive.\u201d<\/p>\n
By releasing the series for free across social media, Different Films is leaning into a \u201ccommunity-first\u201d distribution model, ensuring the story is accessible to contemporary audiences, redefining what it means to be a fan of the game.<\/p>\n
In a landscape where we are still waiting for the first active male AFL player to feel safe enough to live openly and authentically, Become The One offers a poignant, grounded, and ultimately necessary look at what it costs to stay hidden \u2013 and what it takes to be found.<\/p>\n
You can watch the full series now by visiting @BecomeTheOneSeries on Instagram<\/a>, TikTok, and Different Films on YouTube<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t