VMAN 56: Taylor Zakhar Perez Takes Over

March 4, 2026

Text by Barry Pierce

In Red, White & Royal Blue, Taylor Zakhar Perez found his prince. The 2023 film, which charted the love affair between the son of the American president and the grandson of the King of England, treated us to a blissful alternative reality where the biggest threat to US-UK relations was two guys getting down and dirty. Now, Perez is reprising his role as Alex Claremont-Diaz in Red, White & Royal Wedding, the hotly anticipated sequel that sees him reunite with Prince Henry (played by actor Nicholas Galitzine) as the newly minted royal power couple.

Taylor wears a windbreaker, cotton trunks, shorts | **LACOSTE**

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A new director is in the hot seat for the sequel, But I’m a Cheerleader’s Jamie Babbit will helm the production. Meanwhile, for Perez, stepping back into the role of Alex has felt like “reuniting with an old friend.” He’s currently in the middle of filming Royal Wedding when we catch up with him to chat about reuniting with the cast, his sudden fame following the first film, and his numerous upcoming projects, including several that see him taking on a brand new role: producer.

BARRY PIERCE: What’s it been like stepping back into the character of Alex and reuniting with the cast?

TAYLOR ZAKHAR PEREZ: Stepping back into Alex after all this time feels like reuniting with an old friend who’s grown up alongside you. The first film was this whirlwind of discovery, for the character, for me, for the audience, and now there’s this added layer of maturity that Alex clearly didn’t have in the first one. It’s not about recreating the magic; it’s about honoring how these wildly ambitious characters would realistically evolve. Uma Thurman and I have built a meaningful friendship off-set that adds to Alex and Ellen’s relationship on screen. She is such a powerhouse acting partner who is wildly present and cares about the craft. And it has felt like no time has passed. Reuniting with Nicholas and Rachel [Hilson], we’re in lockstep.

BP: Jamie Babbit is directing Red, White & Royal Wedding. What has the experience of working with her been like?

TZP: Jamie has a way of creating a space for play; she really allows you to bring your character’s choices to life while being extremely additive to your performance. Because Nicholas and I know our characters so well, Jamie always wants to be in service of the truth of the world. She has worked with some legendary actors, and she creates a positive and trustworthy environment for us.

BP: How has your approach to playing Alex changed this time around?

TZP: This time around, everything’s shifted. Alex is in a committed, real relationship with Henry, he’s graduated from law school, and he’s more self-aware and more settled in his identity. The big questions aren’t about figuring out his sexuality or hiding anymore; they’re about what comes next in life, love, career, and the world around him.

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BP: While you’re still in the process of shooting the sequel, can you imagine yourself revisiting Alex again for future instalments?

TZP: I never take reprising a role for granted, especially one that resonated so deeply with people. The appetite for more of Alex and Henry is real, and that’s humbling. If we get to keep telling their story beyond this chapter, whether in another film or exploring bigger arcs, I’d want it to keep pushing boundaries on representation.

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BP: Red, White & Royal Blue was such a success. What was it like, as an actor, dealing with that whole new level of exposure?

TZP: The sudden surge in exposure after the first film was intense. We earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie, which led to a full awards campaign: red carpets, panels, roundtables, the whole circuit. Nothing truly prepares you for that level of scrutiny and attention. It can either unravel you or forge something stronger in you.

It definitely forced me to get crystal clear on my boundaries, to keep protecting my peace, and to trust that the only voice worth listening to consistently is my own. People will try to steer you in directions that serve them more than you, and the key is staying anchored in your gut instinct, where it leads, and how it feels. That grounding amid all the noise has been essential.

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BP: You’ve been busy building things behind the camera recently. You recently teased that you’re working on adapting an Ali Hazelwood novel for the screen. What can you reveal about that, and are you keen to work more on the production side of the industry?

TZP: Producing is where I’m really stretching myself these days, and honestly, it’s one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done. Right now, I’m quietly developing a handful of projects that hit me hard, stories with real depth, real intention. Yes, there’s an adaptation of one of Ali Hazelwood’s novels… something with a darker edge that I’ve been grinding on for months. Then Gabriel Urza’s The Silver State, which has this raw, unflinching heart. And a sports film alongside the powerhouse team that made AIR, the kind of project that blends high stakes with genuine human drive. Acting will always be my first love, the rush of stepping into a character, breathing life into a scene, there’s nothing like it. Now, being able to shape the narrative from behind the camera as well, having a hand in what gets made and how. That feels like the natural next chapter. It’s evolution. It’s control. It’s having agency in your own career and not having to wait for a call.

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BP: Romantic films seem to be a big part of your career so far—from The Kissing Booth to Red, White & Royal Blue. Is romance a genre you feel particularly comfortable in, and are there other genres you’d love to explore?

TZP: Romance has been the heartbeat of my journey so far, and I’m truly grateful for it. But I’m selective now. I want range: deep character studies, taut thrillers, grounded dramas that push me into new territory. Still, if the right romance arrives, one that challenges the genre or centers on underrepresented voices, I’m in. It’s about the story that grips you, the collaborators who ignite it, and creating something that lingers.