The Acolyte is the gayest Star Wars but – oh, and R2-D2 is a lesbian. (LucasFilm/Disney+/Getty)
The creator of The Acolyte, Leslye Headland, and non-binary star Amandla Stenberg have agreed that the brand new collection is the “gayest” but within the long-running Star Wars saga – and advised that R2-D2 is in truth a lesbian.
The brand new sci-fi thriller is about roughly 100 years earlier than the occasions of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, and plenty of characters are queer, in response to lesbian director Headland. Effectively, kind of.
Chatting with The Wrap as The Acolyte dropped on Disney+, Stenberg, who performs twin sisters Osha and Mae, mentioned Star Wars was “so homosexual already”, as a result of “nerds are homosexual”.
The brand new collection additionally options lesbian star Rebecca Henderson, Headland’s spouse, and homosexual Chicago Fireplace and Arrow actor Charlie Barnett.
And Ladhood‘s Abigail Thorn made historical past by changing into the primary trans actress within the Star Wars universe. She performs ensign Eurus.
Whereas Headland mentioned she didn’t essentially enhance LGBTQ+ illustration within the collection on function, she added: “And but, folks have advised me that it’s the gayest Star Wars and I’m frankly… into it.”
And Stenberg mentioned: “We’d be like, ‘Look how homosexual that is’, and ship one another reference images.”
R2-D2 ‘is a lesbian‘
Headland even hinted that a few of the sci-fi’s most-famous characters are literally a part of the LGBTQ+ household – together with a sure beloved little droid.
“Are you telling me, with a straight face, that C-3PO is straight?” Headland requested earlier than joking that R2-D2 is definitely a “canon” lesbian. Somebody get some House Birkenstocks, stat.
In the meantime, earlier fan-favourite animated characters, Sana Starros, Physician Aphra and Varko Grey, in addition to stormtrooper TK-421, are all seen as a part of the rainbow alphabet.
Forward of The Acolyte’s launch, each Headland and Stenberg had been fast to close down a backlash from followers who dubbed the brand new collection too “woke”.
“There’s an unlimited array of Star Wars followers. There’s a particular type of Star Wars fan [who’s] very vocal on the web,” Stenberg advised British GQ. “They’ve known as our present The Woke-alyte… OK, what about it?”
Then, in dialog with The New York Instances, Headland mentioned: “I stand by my empathy for Star Wars followers, however I need to be clear: anybody who engages in bigotry, racism or hate speech… I don’t think about a fan.”
Star Wars: The Acolyte is streaming on Disney+ now.