The First Trailer for Anything Shows Matt Bomer in Contentious Trans Role

The first trailer for Anything debuted this week, giving fans a glimpse of a tender story about love and acceptance on the surface. But beneath the film's premise are turbulent waters surrounding the casting of Matt Bomer, a cisgender man, as the trans character Freda.

Related | Here's the Problem with Matt Bomer Being Cast as a Trans Woman

Based on the play by Timothy McNeil, Anything centers around widower Early (John Caroll Lynch) and his life after he uproots and moves from Mississippi to Los Angeles following the death of his wife. Once in LA, Early finds an unlikely friend in his neighbor, Freda, who is a transgender sex worker.

Notable trans talent has spoken out against Bomer's portrayal of Freda, curious why the role couldn't have gone to an actual transgender actor.

Associate producer Kylene K. Steele, who identifies as trans, asked viewers to remain open in an interview with IndieWire. "Matt did an amazing job, and he's a phenomenal actor," Steele said. "You shouldn't be judged by who the person's gender is, if they can pretend and be the person that's fit for the role, then that's the way it should be."

Anything premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival last year and comes to theaters May 11. Watch, below.