Will Pose season 3 be without the show’s iconic ball scenes?

Billy Porter gives an update on filming Pose season 3 in the middle of a pandemic.

The big question surrounding season 3 of FX’s Pose, outside of when the show will be returning, is how the show will adjust to COVID-19 production protocols.

Pose has a large ensemble cast who are often featured together around dinner tables and gathered in each other’s homes and establishments. New York City is a character in itself, brimming with people and the bustle of city life.

How much of that will change as season 3 is filmed in the middle of a pandemic?

The full answer to that question remains to be seen, but Pose star Billy Porter’s recent appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan did provide an update on how things are going.

Watch the video below:

According to Porter, it hasn’t been easy filming Pose‘s third season, but he credits Disney (the parent company of FX) for the safety measures on set, stating, “…they have really taken this seriously. They’ve taken the science seriously, and they are keeping us all very safe during this process. So I’m just grateful to be back working.”

In light of the difficulties that the cast and crew are sure to be experiencing due to the protocols put in place, one has to wonder about the balls. Pose is known for its emphasis on community and found family in the face of oppression and a world determined not to see the value in its LGBTQ+ members, but it’s also known for its exultation of ball culture.

Always beautiful, extravagant, and glamorous, Pose‘s ball scenes are iconic not just for their artistry but also for their penchant for being a vehicle for character development and exploration. These characters live and breathe for the balls, they’re a part of their identity and a core feature of the show as such the cast has been filming around them for the time being.

Porter says, “We have not shot any of the balls yet. We’ve been shooting the scene work, and I believe that we’re waiting, for the ball sequences, to hopefully be shooting them inside some sort of vaccine situation, so that we can have all those people in the room. So we’re pushing those scenes to next year.”

Time will tell if a typical Pose ballroom scene will be possible. We hope so, but safety over normalcy has to be the name of the game in this situation. I’ll take a pared-down ball scene (or none at all to be quite frank) if it’ll ensure the health and wellness of all involved.

A Pose season without the balls we’re used to wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. They aren’t the show’s only strength. The acting and storytelling in the series is capable of carrying the season in spite of such an integral loss.

Still, we’ll be waiting patiently to see how Pose season 3 will be rising to the challenge of bringing us realness during such a trying time for the country and the entertainment industry.

What are you excited to see when Pose season 3 airs? Serve up your thoughts in the comments below!