Star Wars Icon Billy Dee Williams “Perplexed” By The Idea of Pansexual Lando Calrissian
Star Wars icon Billy Dee Williams criticized the focus on Lando Calrissian’s sexuality in Solo: A Star Wars.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, author Brian Hiatt writes that Williams was “perplexed” that Lando Calrissian would be pansexual.
Hiatt writes:
“He was also perplexed by Solo’s suggestion that Lando was in love, maybe even lust, with a droid.”
Williams goes on to criticize the idea saying, “I think that’s the reason they didn’t have the success they could have had.”
He adds:
“Because they were going for something that was topical, instead of an adventure that’s far beyond those questions. If you’re talking about this huge, incredible story, why lock yourself into this tiny moment between a character like Lando and his robot friend?”
Related: Star Wars Writer Jon Kasdan Doubles Down on Lando’s Sexuality in Solo: A Star Wars Story
Solo: A Star Wars Story writer Jon Kasdan declared Lando was pansexual in May of last year.
A pansexual is someone who is not limited in sexual choice with regard to biological sex, gender, or gender identity.
When asked if the character was pansexual, Kasdan told MSN, “I would say yes.” He explained, “here’s a fluidity to Donald and Billy Dee’s [portrayal of Lando’s] sexuality.”
Kasdan added, “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.”
He concluded, “He doesn’t make any hard and fast rules. I think it’s fun. I don’t know where it will go.”
Kasdan would double down on Twitter writing, “Sorry to have brought identity/gender poltiics into… NOPE. Not sorry AT ALL ’cause I think the GALAXY George gave birth to in ’77 is big enough for EVERYONE: straight, gay, black, wite, brown, Twi’lek, Sullustan, Wookiee, DROID & anything inbetween.”
Sorry to have brought identity/gender politics into… NOPE. Not sorry AT ALL ’cause I think the GALAXY George gave birth to in ’77 is big enough for EVERYONE: straight, gay, black, white, brown, Twi’lek, Sullustan, Wookiee, DROID & anything inbetween. #droidrights #weAREsentient
— Jon Kasdan (@JonKasdan) May 19, 2018
Donald Glover would also state that his version of Lando was pansexual.
When asked about Kasdan’s comments, Glover responds:
“Yea. How can you not be pansexual in space? There are so many things to have sex with. I’m serious. I didn’t think that was that weird. He’s coming on to everybody.”
He added:
“It didn’t seem that weird to me. If you are in space the door is open. It’s not like he’s just like ‘Only guys or girls.” No, it’s anything. This thing is literally a blob. ‘Are you a man or a woman?’ Who cares?”
Williams also criticized Donald Glover’s look as Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
“To me, I’m Lando. I love that Donald Glover. He’s a brilliant young man. But his hair was not how I thought of Lando. He was more Afrocentric with his hair. I have nothing against that. But when I created Lando, he was beyond all of that.”
What do you make of Billy Dee Williams’ comments?
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