There's Plenty of Eye Candy on Prime Video's Binge-Worthy 'Etoile'

From Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, the genius creators of "Gilmore Girls" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and "Bunheads," Amazon Prime Video brings us "Étoile," set in the tempestuous world of ballet.

"The Palladinos have a long history of celebrating dance in their work," wrote Pointe Magazine last month in a feature about the show. "'Gilmore Girls' included an eccentric ballet teacher, 'Bunheads' went inside a small-town dance school, and 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' featured flashy musical numbers. But 'Étoile' takes things a step further. The eight-episode series (which had a two-season order from the start) is about two elite ballet companies – one in New York City, one in Paris – who swap their top stars and creatives in an attempt to revitalize dwindling ticket sales and save their institutions."

Being set in the rarified world of ballet, the show is chock-full of gorgeous men and women, with lots of eye candy for queer audiences. It all culminates in a season-ending kiss between two male characters that will have gay men swooning with pleasure.

Here at EDGE, we want to highlight the host of male hotties in the sexy series and send out a wish that Prime follows through with renewing this sizzling show for a second season.

Luke Kirby

The Emmy-winning Luke Kirby plays the high-strung artistic director of the New York Metropolitan Ballet, Jack McMillan. Jack is saddled with keeping everyone in line, and quite often spars with the temperamental but brilliant Cheyenne Toussaint (Lou de Laâge, in one of the best TV performances of the season). He's also carrying on an affair with Geneviève Lavigne (the divine Charlotte Gainsbourg).

The handsome actor is a Palladino vet, having won his Guest Emmy for portraying Lenny Bruce on "Mrs. Maisel." He appeared onstage early in his career, and has been working consistently on both the big and small screens for the last 25 years, including playing a gay role in the comedy "Mambo Italiano" in 2002. His other films include "Shattered Glass" (2003), "Take This Waltz" (2011), "Touched with Fire" (2015), "Another Kind of Wedding" (2017), "Glass" (2019), and "Out of My Mind" (2024).

His numerous TV credits include major roles in "Slings and Arrows," "Cra$h & Burn," "Rectify," "The Astronauts Wives Club," "The Deuce," "Panhandle" and "Dr. Death."

Kirby has a few extended sex scenes on the short-lived 2007 HBO series "Tell Me You Love Me" that showcase his ass in motion for quite the extended time. Almost two decades later, in Episode 5 of "Étoile," viewers can see that ageless butt all over again.

Click here for his IG page.

Gideon Glick

Openly gay stage, screen, and TV thesp Gideon Glick plays the socially awkward, enigmatic choreographer Tobias Bell, who, having been sent to Paris, is completely out of his element (although the argument could be made that he creates his own element). The headphoned genius becomes particularly enchanted with Ivan du Pontavice's dancer extraordinaire, Gabin Roux. Glick completely immerses himself in Bell, a creator who locks so wholly into his craft that nothing else can penetrate.

His previous TV work includes "Devious Maids," "The Detour," and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," as well as the gay-themed shows "The Other Two" and "American Horror Story: NYC."

His most notable films are Dan Harris's "Speech & Debate" (2017), Gary Ross's "Oceans 8" (2018), Noah Baumbach's "Marriage Story" (2019), and "White Noise" (2022), as well as Bradley Cooper's "Maestro," where he played Tommy Cothran, one of Leonard Bernstein's lovers.

His extensive stage work includes Broadway's "Spring Awakening," "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," "Significant Other," and "To Kill a Mockingbird" (Tony nomination). Off-Broadway credits: "Speech & Debate," "Into the Woods" at the Delacorte, "The Few," "The Harvest," and, most recently, taking over for Seymour in "Little Shop of Horrors."

The sexy actor has appeared in his undies and shirtless in some of his TV work.

Click here for his IG page.

Ivan du Pontavice

Gorgeous French actor Ivan du Pontavice plays the ambitious, cocky dancer Gabin Roux, who desires both success and his choreographer, Tobias Bell. Gabin, a member of Le Ballet National, tends to get himself into trouble in and out of the rehearsal room, and he's incredibly hard on himself. But the one thing he believes in is Tobias's work as a choreographer. And he believes in Tobias. The chemistry between Glick and Pontavice is off the charts. Their relationship is the heart of the series.

Pontavice initially trained as a classical pianist, graduating from the Sorbonne with a degree in Philosophy and Literature. He then studied Shakespeare and Classical Theatre at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.

This is the stunning thesp's first major role in any medium, and he's truly remarkable. Oh, and his body, especially in tights, is a wonder to behold.

Click here for his IG page.

Robbie Fairchild

Tony-nominee and celebrated ballet dancer Robbie Fairchild, best known for playing Jerry Mulligan in the musical "An American in Paris" on Broadway, is Larry O'Connell in "Étoile," one of the Metropolitan Ballet's principal dancers. Larry is assigned to be Cheyenne's dance partner, but she nixes him. We get to see some of his great moves throughout the series.

Fairchild started as an apprentice at the New York City Ballet in 2005 and joined the company's corps de ballet the following year, graduating to soloist in 2007, and then principal dancer in 2009.

After the Broadway production of "An American in Paris," Fairchild reprised his role on London's West End for three months. He's also been in productions of "A Chorus Line," "Oklahoma!," and "Brigadoon."

He played Munkustrap in the 2019 film debacle "Cats." He was also in the 2019 Netflix series "Soundtrack."

Most recently, he created the role of George Valentin in the 2024 stage adaptation of Michel Hazanavicius's Oscar-winning film "The Artist" on the West End.

Click here for his IG page.

David Alvarez

Sultry David Alvarez is Gael Rodriguez, the partner Cheyenne seeks out and insists on dancing with, much to Jack's ire. Suffice to say, they have a combative history. Gael and Cheyenne become more than dance partners, but things get uber-complicated when Jack's sister, and Gael's ex, Quinn (Nina Arianda) returns to NY to conduct a ballet.

Born in Montreal, Quebec, Alvarez trained at the American Ballet Theatre and danced featured roles "The Nutcracker" and "Sleeping Beauty."

His big break came when he was chosen as one of three boys to play the titular role of "Billy Eliot" on Broadway. Along with Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish, he shared the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical in 2009. He returned to Broadway in the 2015 revival of "On the Town" as a Swing.

On TV he played Isaac English in the Showtime series "American Rust" from 2021 to 2024. "Étoile" marks his second major TV show.

Alvarez played Bernardo in the Steven Spielberg remake of the film "West Side Story" in 2021.

No Instagram page found.

Benjamin Freemantle

The incredibly sexy Benjamin Freemantle plays Bert in "Étoile," another principal member of the New York Metropolitan Ballet.

Freemantle joined the San Francisco Ballet as a member of the Corps de Ballet in 2015 and performed in works like Lensky in "Onegin." In 2018, he was named among the "25 To Watch" by Dance Magazine and became a Soloist with SF Ballet. He was named Principal Dancer in 2019. He left the company in 2022 to pursue creative endeavors on stage and screen.

He played a sailor in Bradley Cooper's "Maestro," but "Étoile" is his first major acting role. Upcoming is a queer-themed film titled "The Accompanist Awakening."

Click here for his IG page.

Raoul Denez

Yummy newcomer Raoul Denez plays Timeo Gerard, a hot young French boy who becomes enamored with the American ballerina Mishi (Tais Vinolo), sent to Paris as part of the switch. Denez and Vinolo have a number of sweet scenes together, but the one of his best moments is when Lou de Laâge's Cheyenne tears into him for not trying to understand the mind of a dancer.

The little online info on Denez shows that has done some theatre, been in a few obscure French movies, and has two TV credits besides "Étoile," "Un père idéal (An Ideal Father)" and a comedy called "Zonz," still unreleased, that takes place in a prison.

Click here to take a look at Raoul in a super-short but incredibly sexy episode of "Clic Clac," where he has just had sex with his male best friend – and put on the English captions.

With his stunning looks, we imagine that we will be seeing Denez in more work very soon.

Click here for his IG page.

Tristan Ridel

Tristan Ridel plays French dancer Tristan Magan, who is part of Le Ballet National and was made Mishi's dance partner. He's someone who stood by her when the rest of the Ballet Corp wanted her out. The sexy model and dancer was a Demi Soloist at the Vienna State Opera.

This is his first TV credit.

Click here for his IG page.