Jonathan Kasdan: Lando Calrissian is Pansexual
Donald Glover is Lando Calrissian in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.
Written by:Danielle SolzmanPosted on: May 17, 2018 May 17, 2018
Solo co-writer Jonathan Kasdan confirmed in an interview with The Huffington Post that Lando Calrissian is pansexual. As far as major characters in the Star Wars universe are concerned, this makes Lando one of the first known person to be attracted to more than one gender. He's far from the only LGBTQ character as Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo's sexual orientation is made clear in the novel, Leia: Princess of Alderaan.
So, given the opportunity to speak with father-and-son "Solo" co-writers Lawrence and Jonathan Kasdan, I asked them about Lando's possible sexual fluidity. Is he pansexual?
"I would say yes," Jonathan Kasdan emphatically said.
During the interview, Kasdan points out the way in which both Donald Glover and the earlier performance from Billy Dee Williams have portrayed Calrissian's sexuality on screen. The co-writer continues:
"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 doesn't make any hard and fast rules. I think it's fun," Kasdan said. "I don't know where it will go."
Having seen the film, it's very easy to see how Glover plays the sexuality in the film. Something for viewers to keep an eye on is the relationship between Lando and his droid. Because it has been quite some time since I've watched the original trilogy, I'd need another watch to see if Williams' portrayal comes off in the same way. Granted, a lot has changed in between those films as far as progress goes. It would be nice to see more of it take place on screen rather than to explore the backstories of these characters off-screen in books.
Lucasfilm will release Solo in theaters on May 25, 2018. The date also marks the 41st anniversary of the release of the first Star Wars film.
Han Solo, Jonathan Kasdan, Solo, Star Wars
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Danielle Solzman
Danielle Solzman is native of Louisville, KY, and holds a BA in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University and a MA in Media Communications from Webster University. She roots for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Boston Celtics. Living less than a mile away from Wrigley Field in Chicago, she is an active reader (sports/entertainment/history/biographies/select fiction) and involved with the Chicago improv scene. She also sees many movies and reviews them. She has previously written for Redbird Rants, Wildcat Blue Nation, and Hidden Remote/Flicksided. From April 2016 through May 2017, her film reviews can be found on Creators.