Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerclosed out Disney’s newStar Warstrilogy at the end of last year, and featured a gay kiss between two characters that was promoted as an example of positive representation on the silver screen. Eight months later,The New Mutantsis hitting theaters for the first timeas well, and its director has some choice words for that particularStar Warsmoment.
Josh Boone, the director ofThe New Mutants,referred to the scene as “the most embarrassing” example he could think of when it comes to queer representation. The scene was heavily criticized by several groups when the film released, arguing that the kiss, which happened between two unnamed characters in the background of a celebration, was simply an insincere attempt at pandering. Other criticism pointed out that the kiss was shot in a way that would make it very easy to cut out for international markets, which sometimes balk at any representation of LGBTQ characters.
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Boone himself addedto this criticism recently, remarking that “It was just somebody in the background and [the filmmakers] were like, ‘We’ll put out articles as if this is something you should pay attention to.'” He also added that his own movie would have a gay love story, calling it “the first one at Disney for sure.” Contrary to the perfunctory inclusion inStar Wars, Boone assures audiences thatThe New Mutantswill be different, arguing: “It has a gay love story… one of the first superhero movies that really has one that’s an integral part of the plot and story and the whole thing hangs on it.”
The romance is between two of the film’s main characters, namely Rahen Sinclair and Danielle Moonstar, whose relationship will play a central role in the story,according to Boone. By making the character’s romance as a more important part of the narrative, he hopes to create representation that will be more meaningful to audiences. “I hope this would reach some people and for young women out there who are gay and don’t see representation in a big movie, it’s like, you guys can dress up at Halloween and hold hands and be them and that’s awesome.” If he succeeds, perhapsThe New Mutantscan be what Boone believesStar Warscould have achieved.
