The charming and suave Lando | Photo: IMDB/Lucasfilm
It’s official: There’s a queer character in the Star Wars universe and it’s none other than cape-wearing Lando Calrissian.
Jonathan Kasdan and his father, Lawrence, who both penned the script for the upcoming movie, Solo: A Star Wars Story, recently discussed the latest installment with the Huffington Post.
They described Lando as being an open-minded character.
When asked point-blank about whether or not Lando is pansexual, the younger Kasdan said: ‘I would say yes. There’s a fluidity to Donald and Billy Dee Williams’ [portrayal of Lando’s] sexuality.’
Williams portrayed the popular character in the last two films of the original Star Wars trilogy. Donald Glover portrays a younger version in this new film.
Merriam-Webster defines pansexuality as ‘of, relating to, or characterized by sexual desire or attraction that is not limited to people of a particular gender identity or sexual orientation’.
It’s not very surprising given Lando has always been a charismatic character, flitting between sides.
Kasdan continued: ‘I mean, I would have loved to have gotten a more explicitly LGBT character into this movie. I think it’s time, certainly, for that, and I love the fluidity ― sort of the spectrum of sexuality that Donald appeals to and that droids are a part of.’
Fans have long wanted LGBTI representation in the Star Wars universe, especially with the new trilogy’s characters, Finn and Poe.
Will we see the fluidity?
Many fans are embracing the news with enthusiasm. Others, however, are worried it’s simply creators talking the talk without walking the walk. Think J.K. Rowling saying Dumbledore is gay after publishing all seven Harry Potter books.
Or Marvel movies shooting scenes with queer characters — and then cutting them.
im excited that lando was confirmed pan but at the same time im like 99% sure this is just gonna be one of those things where a creator says a character is lgbt+ but it’s never actually expressed in the media
— peter parker love account (@akmazian) May 17, 2018
Make your characters textually queer, or keep it out your goddamn mouth. This whole “Oh, BTW Dumbledore is gay, Lando Calrissian is pansexual, Frodo Baggins was actually one of the founding members of the House of LaBeija…” Put it in the FUCKING movie or shut up, you coward.
— [kie.ran] (@danblackroyd) May 17, 2018
Hey let’s not completely dunk on the whole Lando being pansexual thing? We can both be happy about it and critical that it likely won’t play out on screen, yes?
— Lil’ M’Baku (@OhHeyDJ) May 17, 2018
like we been knew but do you have any intention of accurately portraying that in your franchise? or are you just going to say it in press releases? do you have any intention of ACTUALLY putting lgbt folk in your films?
— hawaiian shirt wan (@lgbtkenobi) May 17, 2018
so what im hearing is that they ‘said’ that lando was pansexual, but it is never referenced in the movie. Thanks for nothing i guess. multinational franchises are fucking cowards.
— Stardust child (@sonofaraven) May 17, 2018
give me Actual Pansexual Lando in the STORY, put that shit to USE, MAKE IT CANON IN THE MOVIES instead of just talking about it in interviews to erase it later so you don’t lose your Dudebro fans y’all cowards………….
— STOP FIGHTING U SWEATIES (@WlNTEREYE) May 17, 2018
Tbh I’m tired of authors or creators stating that a character is LGBT after the fact and not actually showing it in the work
— Tifa @ Unlimited Shade Works (@ChibiTifa) May 17, 2018
Still, plenty of fans are also just really excited about the news.
lando calrissian is a canon pansexual fashion and space icon??? he’s really out there doing the MOST???? i love a legend
— arfa (@roguesanakin) May 17, 2018
lando calrissian is pansexual i’m so happy
— 🌊 nsfr (@stqves) May 17, 2018
All the people asking “Why does it matter? Who cares?” re: Lando being confirmed as pan: GO TALK TO A PAN PERSON ABOUT IT. Especially any pansexual black men out there. They get to see themselves in the 2nd highest grossing media franchise in the world.
— Coryl Reef; she/they (@corylwrites) May 17, 2018
good afternoon lgbts lando is pansexual
— STOP FIGHTING U SWEATIES (@WlNTEREYE) May 17, 2018
