The Power Rangers movie isn’t only making waves for anyone and everyone who are anticipating the movie. Sources have reported that the long awaited film from our childhood will also be making waves for the LGBT community as well.
The film marks the first-ever superhero movie to feature a gay protagonist character. Though minute, Trini (the yellow Power Ranger, played by Becky G) is crucial for the film, as we watch her come to terms with her sexuality. In a scene, a character asks about her “boyfriend problems”, where audiences will soon realize that she may actually be having “girlfriend problems”.
Director Dean Israelite said to The Hollywood Reporter, “For Trini, really she’s questioning a lot about who she is. She hasn’t fully figured it out yet. I think what’s great about that scene and what that scene propels for the rest of the movie is, ‘That’s OK.’ The movie is saying, ‘That’s OK,’ and all of the kids have to own who they are and find their tribe.”
In the original Power Rangers series, Trini was portrayed as straight, but the change is definitely receiving positive feedback… in Hollywood, at least. Back then, the original Blue Ranger actor, David Yost, was openly gay when he took on the role, but ended up leaving the series in the late ’90s as he was facing harassment over his sexual orientation.
When contacted about the film’s twist, he told THR that “They really stepped up to the plate. I think so many people in the LGBTQI community are going to be excited to see that representation.”
So far, the only superhero that came close to representing non-heterosexuality was Marvel’s antihero Deadpool, who identifies as pansexual. However, Deadpool never had any non-heterosexual experiences in the film.
News of the Power Rangers movie’s first gay character comes after Disney featured its first-ever gay gay character in the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast.
In all honesty, we’re hoping that Power Rangers doesn’t get bumped from screening like the whole Beauty and the Beast brouhaha, #fingerscrossed. 🙂
UPDATE: Tourism & Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said he was informed that the Malaysian Censorship Board IS considering banning The Power Rangers movie due to the recent development of a lesbian character in the film. “I appeal to the censorship board to reconsider its decision on the Power Rangers movie,” he added.
He also noted that the censorship board’s action is more counter-productive as it would draw attention to the scenes in the movies.
And TBH, we’re with him on this. Bottom line – Don’t book your tickets just yet, folks. You never know what’s going to happen after the jump.
