from GENRE, issue 138, June 2005:

Michael Lucas is all about pushing people’s buttons. Whenever he speaks, whenever he makes an entrance, he aims to shock.

Lucas, New York’s king of porn, arrived for an interview at a trendy Chelsea restaurant decked out in Dolce & Gabbana, and his famous pout, his most recognizable trait (make that his second most recognized).

As soon as the waiter greets him, Lucas stuns him with an avalanche of questions, “Are you married?” “Are you faithful to your husband?” And “Can I have your number?”

The waiter smiles, looks to the side, as if to make sure this isn’t a Candid Camera moment, then pulls out a picture of his boyfriend.

You’d think that would be enough to stop even the most confident of players dead on their tracks, but not Lucas. His ego is surpassed only by the size of his well-endowed penis.

“He’s dying to sleep with me,” he says. “Don’t worry, I’ll have him.”

Worry is simply not a word Lucas, a 32 year-old Russian immigrant, has ever bothered to learn. He is a risk-taker in the truest sense of the word. In an industry where actors have the shelf life of a carton of milk, this former escort turned-porn-star has become one of the most recognizable names in the adult industry. His company, “Lucas Entertainment” is now the largest distributor of gay pornography in the Northeast, raking in between two and three million dollars a year.

These days Lucas is about to play his biggest deck of cards yet. He’s wrapping up the most expensive and ambitious gay adult movie in history: a remake of Dangerous Liaisons, the x-rated version. But don’t expect any wigs or tights in this flick. Lucas’ adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’ classic takes place in modern day New York City. The rich and bored aristocrats of Rococo France have been transformed into conniving backstabbing moguls of Gotham’s fashion industry, and the Paris Opera House, replaced with a hip New York City nightclub. Lucas takes on the part of Marcus Von Halpern (played in the 1988 movie by Glenn Close), a successful fashion designer who enlists Valentine Moore (Gus Maddox as the gay John Malkovich), a top of the line haute couture photographer to seduce his ex-lover’s boyfriend (Wilfred Knight).

There’s also a new exclusive performance by newcomer Bruce Beckham, who Lucas says is sure to make anyone come back, so to speak, for more.

“It was much more fun to do,” says Lucas. “Every actor dreams of a real movie, for porn stars, this is the closest thing.”

If you’re one of those who fast-forwards to the sex scenes, not to worry. Lucas says this is all about sex.

“It’s not a Hollywood movie, no, no, no. Sex is still the most important part of film,” says Lucas. “But this time it has witty, funny dialogue.”

The budget for this project: a whopping quarter of a million dollars. Considering the fact that most high-caliber porn films cost less than $25,000 this by industry standards is the “Titanic” of adult entertainment. Now the question is will it have the same fate as the ship or the blockbuster movie?
“I’m not worried,” says Lucas. “I’ve been reading my fan letters and they always want to know what the plot is behind the sex scenes. I thought well if plot is what they want I’ll give them a plot, a big one. I exploded with it.”

The final scene of the movie involved the collaboration of more than 200 extras, including some cameos by the biggest names in gay entertainment: Lady Bunny, Boy George, Bruce Vilanch, Michael Musto, Graham Norton, Hedda Lettuce all agreed to take part in this groundbreaking project.

Lucas says his next film “Fire Island Cruising 7” will also involve a lot more plot.

“It’s just more interesting than sticking it in and out,” he says.

Then, he writes his phone number on the back of the check and hands it to the waiter. Just in case.