I Wish You All the Best is the long-awaited non-binary co...

i-wish-you-all-the-best-movie-trailer-2025-cinemac

I Wish You All the Best (Film still)November 25, 2025Film & TVFeatureI Wish You All the Best is the long-awaited non-binary coming of age story

We speak to actor Corey Fogelmanis about stepping into the lead role of Tommy Dorfman’s first feature film

ShareLink copied ✔️November 25, 2025Film & TVFeatureTextTiarnaRead More Untitled design (2)

Music‘Mixtapification’: Why is everything a mixtape now? Untitled design

Music7 musicians who had their secret identities exposed Charli xcx, "360" (2024)

BeautyCan psychedelics enhance your workout?

Ahead of this interview, I fell into a rabbit hole of fan-made edits of the I Wish You All the Best trailer, set to cult self-discovery anthems, moody transitions, and comment sections full of people already claiming the non-binary coming-of-age story as their own. It’s the kind of queer media its protagonist, Corey Fogelmanis – who plays non-binary teen Ben DeBacker – didn’t grow up with. “I think I looked for it,” he says, “but it wasn’t always something that was super readily available.” At 26, just ahead of his press run, he’s witnessing a long-overdue swell of queer storytelling finally taking shape – and this time, he’s at the centre of one of those stories.

Based on Mason Deaver’s acclaimed novel, I Wish You All the Best follows Ben as they navigate the fallout of coming out as non-binary to unsupportive parents and move in with their older, estranged sister. The debut feature from Tommy Dorfman avoids the archetypal queer melodrama, opting instead for a gentler, more expansive view of Ben’s world. Even with its heavier moments, the film is balanced with irreverent Gen Z humor. With lines like “Is it giving they/them?”, nods to King Princess, and jabs at Noah Centineo, it lands on a humour that’s hard to get right.

Fogelmanis first came across the story years before he was cast, when Dorfman shared it on Instagram in 2019. “I saw the cover and thought it was so beautiful – these two kids, this sense of safety with each other – it just spoke to me.” He bought the book, but it sat on his shelf, until the audition came years later. “I picked it up and dove right in. It felt like it fit like a glove,” he recalls.

On set, he found that relating to Ben’s character came easily, in part because of Dorfman’s writing and direction. “Tommy would write scenes as we were filming, and she would say things in a way that were so familiar to me – like I’d had the thought before, or I’d said it before,” he explains. “It was really exciting, because I had a clear idea of what it meant to me, which isn’t always the case. It was like living my life in a new way, exploring problems I hadn’t really examined before.”

Courtesy of Lionsgate

The story is ultimately uplifting: Ben has already grappled with their identity, so at its core it’s a story about the people around them and how they interact with Ben. “I think a really big reason for Ben making it out the way they do is because of the people in their life that show up for them and hold them when they need it most,” Fogelmanis says – the most formative being their on-screen love interest Nathan, played by Miles Gutierrez-Riley.

Another figure in Ben’s support system is Ms Lyons, the art teacher, played by Lena Dunham. We watch Ben find refuge in the art room, where Ms Lyons offers guidance and support. It’s a familiar archetype in queer coming-of-age stories, one that resonates with many – including the actor himself. “When I was doing that sitcom as a kid and through high school, I had the same teacher for all my years of high school. He’s still in my life – he had such a big part in my development as a student and as a person, and I’m incredibly grateful for him,” he says. “You don’t always get to choose who you have access to, so I feel lucky I had this person. And Ben has Ms Lyons.”

The rarity of stories like Ben’s isn’t lost on Fogelmanis. “Ben starts the story in a really scary place, and I think there’s a lot of different versions of this story that maybe don’t end up so hopeful,” he says. “It’s a wonderful reminder of the power of community, of giving love and receiving love. I’m so excited for this story to be out there, and I don’t want to be too prescriptive, but for it to hopefully be a beacon of light.” For viewers who’ve been waiting to see themselves reflected on screen, it’s set to be just that.

I Wish You All the Best is out now. It is available for rent or purchase on VOD from November 25.

ShareLink copied ✔️More on these topicsFilm & TVFeatureQueer CultureYouthnon-binaryFilmLena Dunham