'Solo: A Star Wars Story' Screenwriter Says Lando Is Pansexual

Buckle up, baby: everyone's favorite space cape connoisseur Lando Calrissian is pansexual. So says Solo: A Star Wars Story co-writer Jonathan Kasdan. "He doesn't make any hard and fast rules. I think it's fun," Kasdan said. "I don't know where it will go."

In a revelation that will no doubt be celebrated by many, and derided by a few angry people on the internet, Jonathan Kasdan has gone ahead and confirmed that the coolest character in the Star Wars universe, Lando, played by Donald Glover in the new film, is pansexual – that is to say, he's not limited in sexual choice with regard to biological sex, gender, or gender identity. During an interview with the Huffington Post, Kasdan and his co-writer and father Lawrence Kasdan, were specifically asked if Lando was pansexual. Jonathan Kasdan replied:

"I would say yes. There's a fluidity to Donald and Billy Dee Williams' [portrayal of Lando's] sexuality. 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."

It's a bit refreshing to see that the younger Kasdan didn't dance around the answer here. Not too long ago, a screenwriter for a huge blockbuster movie being released by Disney might have shrugged off this question, or provided some sort of vague, non-committed answer. I'm not saying we should stop and throw a parade for Jonathan Kasdan for being honest, but it's still nice to see him answer a question like this in the affirmative.

At the same time, this is also yet another example of a filmmaker talking about a character's sexuality outside of the realm of the movie itself. Hollywood has made a habit of this recently. You might recall that much was made about a character in the live-action Beauty and the Beast – another Disney film – being gay, only for audiences to later find out the scene in question was a quick blink-and-you'll-miss-it background moment.

That said, there actually is a moment in Solo: A Star Wars Story that may confirm Lando's pansexuality. Without giving any specific spoilers away, there's a minor but memorable plotline that reveals Lando's interests may lie beyond typical heterosexual limits. When it comes to that, however, Jonathan Kasdan is a bit more cagey. Huffington Post asked him about that specific story element, to which the screenwriter replied: "Maybe it means something, maybe it doesn't."

Solo: A Star Wars Story opens on May 25, 2018.