Who are "they?" What "marketing?" Who's alleging this conspiracy? These fluff news outlets are trying to get a comment from LFL and they're caught flat footed. A writer gave us his non-canonical perspective in a puff piece with a progressive news outlet who likely pressed him on LGBTQ inclusion in the universe. They do it with each film that comes out without one. They'll do it extra when one is revealed explicitly.
Again, this is why I said this is a "byproduct of
current culture." At this point in time, it's not so much about being a natural thing, but an artificial "check box" that must be thrown into films. This is just for the sake of identity-politics.
Remember all the people (including the director) telling anyone who disliked Ghostbusters 2016 was a sexist? I feel this is added to create a "shield" incase people just don't like it, people can go so "hey, you're being critical of Lando's character in the film? It's cause he's a pansexual, isn't it, you bigot?"
Whoever said they didn't want to wonder what Lando thinks of Han when they're in scenes together, that's pretty honest and I respect it. Still, that argument is just about your sensitivity to that idea, and not a reason why it doesn't fit Lando. I'm still shocked that this is a new concept - Is this honestly the first time any of you have heard a debate about Lando's sexuality? Even in a joking manner?
Watching the Empire Strikes Back and ROTJ growing up, I cannot recall an instance where I said, "gee, I wonder what Lando thinks of Han in his private time." The only thing I got from his character in ESB was that he was a double crossing guy macking on Han's love interest, and redeemed his sins from ESB in ROTJ by taking out DS2. Where in the middle of all this, as a kid growing up, do I feel I need to know what Lando does in private? I don't ask you or my friend's about what they're into. His portrayal in ESB was enough for me to be like "oh look, he may try to steal Leia away" but that lasted a mere fleeting instance, and I never cared for it since.
The better question here is
why should I care and why should you be telling us this if it's completely irrelevant to the story being told?
And why do people keep framing "quality storytelling" and "bisexual character" as mutually exclusive concepts? Have any of you guys seen this film yet? Or the hypothetical future Lando movie? I think they're all terrible ideas for Star Wars as I know and love it, but they may (or may not) be well-written in and of themselves. Other people seem to dig em so far. For all the naysayers and premature eulogies, the cash keeps rolling in Disney's front door...
The Lando movie was a bad translation from an interview, and took Kathleen Kennedy's remarks out of context. Not to say they won't ever do it, but just putting that out front.
Again, I don't need to know or care about a character's sexual preferences or "identity" as though it should be the only redeeming trait about a character. Lando's been a significantly popular character for 40 years. There's no real POINT to be made in this situation unless you're just trying to make a statement. As far as WE the viewers ever seen him portrayed since the beginning, he was only into women- not into Han or Luke. This was further backed up in his cameo in Rebels where he was macking on Hera despite other characters being present.
Again, I don't feel a reason why this should even be brought up at all. "Quality storytelling will tell you everything you need to know through the process of telling the story- Not slapping you in the face with it like an angry guy trying to kill you with a brick
