Q-Force: Sean Hayes on bringing ‘gay James Bond’ to Netflix in animated spy comedy
- Sean Hayes, famous for LGBTQ series Will & Grace, says Q-Force is a dream come true for him – a ‘gay James Bond’ series
- For Hayes, the series had to be funny, uncompromising and unapologetic, and full of queer humour
Early in the first season of Q-Force, Netflix’s raunchy and heartfelt new animated comedy series – now streaming – there’s a poignant exchange between novice gay spies Steve (Sean Hayes) and Deb (Wanda Sykes).
“We’re the first queer agents in the field ever,” Steve says. “I feel so much pressure to show I’m the best because if I mess up, I don’t know if anyone else like us will ever get a chance.”
The line takes on added meaning coming from Hayes, 51, the Emmy-winning funnyman whose NBC sitcom Will & Grace brought groundbreaking LGBTQ+ representation to network TV in the late ’90s. But the openly gay actor, who played the unapologetic Jack McFarland for 11 seasons of the sitcom (including its recent revival), demurely dismisses his trailblazer status.
“I try not to load myself up with any pressure,” Hayes says. “I think it’s a much stronger example to lead with confidence than with any underlying pressure that’s self-induced. The haters will hate.”
Q-Force is a long-time dream come true for Hayes, an avid James Bond fan since childhood.
He initially envisioned the project as a feature-length movie in the vein of Austin Powers or Melissa McCarthy’s 2015 comedy Spy, until his producing partner Todd Milliner suggested an animated series instead.
He pitched the show in passing one day to friend Michael Schur, co-creator of Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine and an executive producer on Q-Force.