In the aftermath of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, actor Mark Hamill says viewers should decide for themselves whether his character Luke Skywalker is gay.
Hamill told The Sun in response to fans writing and asking, “If you think Luke is gay, of course, he is. You should not be ashamed of it. Judge Luke by his character, not by who he loves.”
Star Wars is Ready for More Diversity But Are the Fans?
Director J.J. Abrams showed his willingness to do more than talk about the need for Hollywood to support diversity by including both a female and African American leads in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Last month he said that "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.”
“..it is insane to me that we still have to have a conversation about inclusivity. It’s shameful,” Abrams said. “It’s something that is important to me and is something that we’re focusing on at Bad Robot [his production company].”
“It’s inevitable and crazy that it’s taken so long,” he continued.
While most Star Wars fans are supportive of a universe beyond mostly Caucasian actors and one female in the galaxy, some disagree. “Not everything needs to serve an agenda,” said one fan.
“Especially when that requires reckoning something so ingrained in the (pop)cultural zeitgeist.”
Beloved R2-D2 Creator Found Dead - Was There Foul Play?
The artist known for building the beloved droid R2-D2 for Star Wars saga, Tony Dyson, was found dead in his home in Malta, according to officials.
Neighbours alerted authorities on Thursday when they noticed the front door of the 68-year-old's apartment left open, but police say that there is no evidence of foul play.
Besides building several models of R2 for the Star Wars series, Dyson also created effects for Superman 2, the James Bond space adventure, Moonraker, and even the animatronic dragon from Dragonslayer. He also earned an Emmy nomination for the robot used in a Sony TV commercial.
“I can honestly say it was one of the most exciting periods of my life,” Dyson wrote on his website.
“The love for R2 is universal; no other ‘Star Wars’ character has been loved over the years the way R2-D2 has,”
"Have a playful attitude. See the joy in everything you come across. Enjoy life by the moment," Dyson told fans. "These things make you creative. There’s no question. But if you get a rut, and you think play is only for children, and you don’t have a playful attitude, then you’ll never be more creative.”
Speaking to the Times of Malta last year, Dyson said: “Be playful. Never stop playing. If you look at life the way it really should be -- enjoyed -- then you become very creative."
