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http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/26/j-j-abrams-gay-characters-coming-to-star-wars.html

Two months and two billion box office dollars later, Star Wars: The Force Awakens has reaped huge returns for Disney with its most progressive episode yet. Now that Daisy Ridley’s Rey and John Boyega’s Finn have given the Star Wars franchise its first female Jedi and black lead, respectively, does its fearless director J.J. Abrams see a future for a gay character in the galaxy?

“Of course!” Abrams said Thursday night at his Bad Robot HQ, where he hosted the US-Ireland Alliance’s annual Oscar Wilde Awards ahead of Sunday’s Oscars, where The Force Awakens is nominated in five categories. “When I talk about inclusivity it’s not excluding gay characters. It’s about inclusivity. So of course.”

By Abrams’ logic, the sprawling Star Wars universe couldn’t possibly exist without a gay populace—even if we haven’t seen a single character identified as gay thus far. “I would love it,” he said. “To me, the fun of Star Wars is the glory of possibility. So it seems insanely narrow-minded and counterintuitive to say that there wouldn’t be a homosexual character in that world.”

Amid the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, Abrams has been vocal about the need for Hollywood to not just talk about but take action in the name of diversity.

Freeze me in carbonite if old.

Good on ya, JJ

 

[Granadier]

Cool.

 

[FZZ]

In

Spoiler

 

[Fat4all]

But it already had Obi Wan.

 

[Hella Lugosi]

Finn X Poe OTP <3

 

[LycanXIII]

Poe <3 Finn

 

[Brazil]

Aftermath's already there!

 

[MattyG]

There's 2 or 3 gay characters in the books already, but it'd cool to see one in a mainline film.

 

[Salsa]

“I would love it”

how does this confirm it tho

 

[Kyosaiga]

JJ's balls when it comes to combating whitewashed Hollywood is really refreshing.

Who knows what impact John Boeyga's casting alone will cause long term.

 

[exYle]

yas

Now get an Asian lead pleeeease

 

[DragonSworne]

Kylo Ren x Poe

 

[Frozenprince]

As long as they aren't "the gay character" it's fine.

Just make a good character that happens to be gay, don't worry about labels or whatever.

 

[i_am_ben]

Doesn't confirm that they're coming.

 

[Proelite]

yas

Now get an Asian lead pleeeease

Maz Katana.

 

[Salsa]

As long as they aren't "the gay character" it's fine.

Just make a good character that happens to be gay, don't worry about labels or whatever.

- woah did you see that shot!

- yeah man you're great with that blaster!

- also im gay

 

[riotous]

I giggled at how angry this is going to make some people.

 

[Elitist1945]

Finn pls <3

 

[Eggbok]

As long as they aren't "the gay character" it's fine.

Just make a good character that happens to be gay, don't worry about labels or whatever.

Yeah this is how I feel too, it shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[ZombieSupaStar]

You know I was just making a joke when the underside of the internet (and some family) was freaking out about "finn might kiss rey!, damn interracial brain washing!" that being even more progressive would be poe kissing finn.

I love it, bring it on.

 

[Nappuccino]

In like Finn.

(It's gonna be Poe).

 

[MMarston]

yas

Now get an Asian lead pleeeease

We're getting an Asian supporting actress in VIII, so that's a start

Though, her role got reportedly downplayed in rewrites

 

[jack_package_200]

I giggled at how angry this is going to make some people.

Their tears will give me life

 

[DoctorFling]

Well in the new canon so far we already have gay characters so it only seems likely they'll be repped on the big screen. Good stuff.

 

[Boke1879]

Doesn't sound like he's confirming anything for episode 8. just seems like he's saying "Yes there are gay characters in this universe."

 

[exYle]

Maz Katana.

She doesn't strike me as Asian, just old and wizened. And she's played by a black actress, which is great, but I would appreciate a little more representation for Asian-Americans

 

[Monocle]

Sad to see this franchise become a PC mouthpiece. (( First we have to believe black people and women can be heroes, and now they're going to try to tell us that gay people exist in the Star Wars universe. (((((((((((((

George Lucas isn't dead, so he can't be rolling in his grave, but I know he's rich enough to buy a tilt-a-whirl. He's probably whirling and twirling in grief for his beloved creation as we speak.

 

[Salsa]

She doesn't strike me as Asian, just old and wizened. And she's played by a black actress, which is great, but I would appreciate a little more representation for Asian-Americans

rogue one has like 3 asian characters

and the main character is mexican

 

[wanderingprostheyltite]

You know I was just making a joke when the underside of the internet (and some family) was freaking out about "finn might kiss rey!, damn interracial brain washing!" that being even more progressive would be poe kissing finn.

I love it, bring it on.

Lol this just made me think of the Eric Andre prank with the cop where they start making out randomly in a coffee shop. That's how they need to do it with Poe and Finn. No buildup or context, just goin at it. Can you imagine the glorious outrage?

 

[Salsa]

are characters even asian or mexican when they arent from earth?

#starwhitewars

 

[Frozenprince]

 

[jack_package_200]

Sad to see this franchise become a PC mouthpiece. (( First we have to believe black people and women can be heroes, and now they're going to try to tell us that gay people exist in the Star Wars universe. (((((((((((((

George Lucas isn't dead, so he can't be rolling in his grave, but I know he's rich enough to buy a tilt-a-whirl. He's probably whirling and twirling in grief for his beloved creation as we speak.

The sad thing is people unironically post that.

 

[thesoapster]

C-3PO etc. etc.

 

[Fat4all]

rogue one has like 3 asian characters

and the main character is mexican

Space Trump will make him pay for the Death Star.

 

[Monocle]

The sad thing is people unironically post that.

Yep.

This is basically canon now!

 

[riotous]

Doesn't confirm that they're coming.

I mean.. if their paraphrasing of whatever question was asked is accurate, he certainly is claiming a gay character will be in the universe.

does its fearless director J.J. Abrams see a future for a gay character in the galaxy?

“Of course!” Abrams said Thursday night at his Bad Robot HQ, where he hosted the US-Ireland Alliance’s annual Oscar Wilde Awards ahead of Sunday’s Oscars, where The Force Awakens is nominated in five categories. “When I talk about inclusivity it’s not excluding gay characters. It’s about inclusivity. So of course

He seems to be essentially saying "of course there will be gay characters."

 

[DeathoftheEndless]

Elan Kissamanos

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

 

[exYle]

rogue one has like 3 asian characters

and the main character is mexican

You're right, I totally forgot. That's perfect.

Isn't Felicity Jones the lead? She's not Mexican

 

[Granadier]

Sad to see this franchise become a PC mouthpiece. (( First we have to believe black people and women can be heroes, and now they're going to try to tell us that gay people exist in the Star Wars universe. (((((((((((((

George Lucas isn't dead, so he can't be rolling in his grave, but I know he's rich enough to buy a tilt-a-whirl. He's probably whirling and twirling in grief for his beloved creation as we speak.

If this isn't sarcasm then I feel bad for you.

 

[Salsa]

You're right, I totally forgot. That's perfect.

Isn't Felicity Jones the lead? She's not Mexican

main male progatonist is diego luna

 

[BobLoblaw]

It's crazy how you have to announce something so normal.

 

[Bronx-Man]

Space Trump will make him pay for the Death Star.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU_Jdts5rL0

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

We all saw the lust in Poe's eyes.

 

[Forkball]

Yeah like others have said, he nowhere states that upcoming Star Wars films are going to have gay characters, just that it's possible and that obviously gay characters exist in the universe. Star Wars is pretty sexless as a whole. There are like three non-sibling kisses in seven films. If there is a gay character in the film, it will probably be fairly subtle or downplayed.

 

[G-Fex]

Did he..bite his lip?

 

[ZombieSupaStar]

If this isn't sarcasm then I feel bad for you.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Yep.

This is basically canon now!

Really need that .gif if Poe punching Finn on the arm while biting his lower lip - when he gives Finn his jacket.

Edit: there it is!

Did he..bite his lip?

Yes....yes he does.

 

[FUBAR McDangles]

Aftermath had a gay male and a female couple. Sure, they aren't the movies, but it's hardly anything new.

 

[riotous]

It's crazy how you have to announce something so normal.

I see what you are saying; but it's also progress that a question like this would be asked, and the answer he gave is progress.