CockyBoys ends its feature film hiatus with 'Gods & Heroes,' a new romantic fantasy from director Jake Jaxson, marking a shift in creative direction.
CockyBoys recently released "Gods & Heroes," marking the studio's return to feature films after a hiatus that followed "Happy Endings" in February 2023. Director Jake Jaxson, who revamped CockyBoys in 2010, described the new film as his "first hopeful romantic fantasy."
Jaxson stated that many of his previous films, including "The Haunting," "Love Lost and Found," "Answered Prayers," "All Saints," and "One Erection," began with a sense of loss and often concluded with something lost being found. He noted that these projects were responses to others, particularly his parents. "Gods & Heroes," however, represents a different approach, starting with what has been found rather than what was lost. Jaxson explained that the film begins with the realization that "everything changes, no situation is hopeless, and now that you found freedom, what are you going to do with it?"
The studio experienced success at the GayVN Awards, with "One Erection: The Un-Making of a Boy Band" and "All Saints: Chapter 1" winning Best Feature in consecutive years when the awards returned in 2018. From 2019 to 2023, Jaxson and RJ Sebastian received Best Director (Feature) four times for films such as "Le Garçon Scandaleux," "Hollywood & Vine," and "Love Happens."
Following "Happy Endings" in February 2023, CockyBoys paused story-based feature film production. Jaxson and Sebastian then assumed production and creative direction for Randy Blue, a brand acquired by their producing partner, Davyd Dixon, the previous year. Jaxson stated that he and Sebastian were fans of the original Randy Blue and wanted to assist in its revival. This collaboration led to "Boys Will Be Boys," a CockyBoys/Randy Blue co-production that Jaxson and Sebastian produced and co-directed, earning them a GayVN Award for Best Director (Non-Feature) the following year.
Jaxson explained that the break from features was "more of a practical one," as he and Sebastian were producing and releasing three updates weekly across CockyBoys and Randy Blue, which limited time for larger features. He noted that when they produce a feature, they intentionally keep the crew small to allocate more of the budget to production elements like shooting days, setups, and performer time. Jaxson clarified that the gap was not due to a lack of desire to make features, but rather the time required to create the feature he intended to make.
The concept for "Gods & Heroes" had been in development for approximately seven years, starting shortly after "All Saints." Jaxson initially planned to shoot the film in 2020, but the pandemic caused a delay. When he revisited the project in early 2024, it had become more personal. Jaxson discovered his adoption records, including his original birth certificate and birth name, while managing his father's estate after his passing. He subsequently located his birth parents. This experience led him to reflect on having three names: his birth name, his given name, and his "porn name," Jake Jaxson. He realized the power of choosing his identity and altering his understanding of his origin story, moving away from inherited religious shame.
This reflection prompted Jaxson to explore the collective gay origin story within mythology, questioning if it was lost, erased, or replaced by narratives that depicted gay identity as wrong, dangerous, or sinful. He emphasized the importance of reclaiming or creating new stories, leading to "Gods & Heroes," a mythology where both gods and heroes are gay and collaborate. The film portrays a world where the act of choosing to be oneself can be heroic.
The film's debut scene was released at the beginning of summer, nearly three and a half years after the last CockyBoys feature. "Gods & Heroes" depicts Greek gods awakening to a modern society that has abandoned myth, beauty, mystery, and wonder in favor of a "new false god." Jaxson commented on the influence of "Big Tech" and algorithms in shaping perceptions of what is acceptable or "normal," noting that non-conformity can lead to being banned or erased. He stated that in such a world, choosing to be oneself requires courage.
The cast for "Gods & Heroes" includes Cade Maddox and Dom King, both of whom started their studio careers at CockyBoys. Jaxson described them as "porn gods" who are dominant, virile, and understand the playful aspect of the fantasy. He noted that casting them felt like a "CockyBoys homecoming." The studio collaborated with Men.com to facilitate the performers' participation. Jaxson expressed gratitude for the spirit of cooperation that allowed Maddox and King to be part of the project. He appreciated their willingness to "play and do something outside the box," and their combination of masculinity, confidence, and humor. The film also features CockyBoys exclusive Seth Cain, Kane Fox, Oliver Carter, Zane Kazan, Jack Aries, Hunter Graham, Jacob King, and Gage Palmer. Jonah Wheeler and Jonzu made their CockyBoys debuts in the project. The finale, "Zeus Juice," starring Maddox and Cain, was recently unveiled.
Jaxson stated that each character in "Gods & Heroes" is significant to him. He has been contemplating whether he is living his own story or one inherited from others, or comparing himself to ideas of who he "should be." He noted that every character in the film grapples with which parts of their story are truly their own and which they are ready to release. Jaxson admitted to feeling "rusty" when returning to feature filmmaking but found alchemy in collaboration, unexpected moments, and the convergence of separate elements. He also learned that attempting to control the creative process too much can diminish enjoyment, leading to a "wiser" approach.
Jaxson expressed a long-standing fascination with mythology, viewing it as a convergence of mystery, imagination, and truth. He also sees an inherent mythological quality in pornography, which he believes can connect individuals to intimate and "filthiest" parts of themselves, allowing interaction with "gods in all their glory." Jaxson noted that while pornography is often considered "just fantasy," he believes much of everyday thinking is built on fantasy. He aims to create pornographic fantasies rooted in lived reality, where gay sex is not associated with guilt, shame, punishment, or sin. In "Gods & Heroes," he wanted sex to feel like part of a divine experience, requiring vulnerability, presence, and being seen, which he connects to mythmaking as maps of human experience.
Jaxson shared that in his youth, he feared self-acceptance and carried shame due to believing being gay meant being different. He recalled his mother stating that AIDS was a punishment from God, leading him to believe he would die after his first gay sexual experience in college. He stated that he did not die and is "still here," which he believes contributed to him becoming a "good pornographer." He does not believe sex is inherently shameful and views it as an intimate expression of freedom and choice.
He acknowledged that creating a life on his own terms requires audacity but also presents challenges such as comparison, self-doubt, judgment, and feelings of inadequacy. He questions whether the pursuit of acceptance has merely exchanged one set of judgments for another in the quest for a "normal" life, concluding that the pursuit of "being normal" can become another form of shame. He is now focused on living by simply being himself.
Jaxson's personal growth has coincided with his professional development. He initially felt a need to prove himself and "win the case" when he began writing and directing. He now approaches projects like "A Secret Place" and "Just Say Yes" from a place of curiosity, investigation, and mystery rather than conflict. He is less interested in dictating his thoughts and more in collaborative discovery. Jaxson finds his most enjoyable work occurs when he "discovers" the film during its creation, which is why he takes his time. He prefers to create an environment where performers can bring aspects of themselves to a role, allowing for moments that arise from their experience, accidents, locations, or coincidences. He stated that "Gods & Heroes" is likely his first film made from "joyful acceptance rather than conflict," celebrating the freedom he has found.
Jaxson highlighted the importance of his husband and producing partner, RJ Sebastian. He described their 26-year relationship as the most challenging and rewarding aspect of making the film. He expressed amazement at what they create together, noting their mutual support and a level of trust he believes he could not have with anyone else. As the studio approaches its 20th anniversary next year, Jaxson stated they intend to continue their work. He acknowledged the effort required to avoid taking frustrations out on each other when challenges arise, describing it as a balancing act of love, trust, creativity, exhaustion, and knowing when to give each other space. He finds it rewarding to complete a project and know they "did this together."
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