Kit Harrington asks when will a gay actor get to play a superhero?

Game of Thrones star Kit Harrington has shared his thoughts on Hollywood’s reluctance to cast gay men in leading roles.

Speaking at an event at the Toronto Film Festival, Harrington asked questioned why gay actors rarely get cast in masculine roles.

“There’s a big problem with masculinity and homosexuality that they can’t somehow go hand in hand,” Harington said. “That we can’t have someone in a Marvel movie who’s gay in real life and plays some super hero. I mean, when is that going to happen?”

Harrington was at the festival promoting The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, a new film from director Xavier Dolan. The film is the first English language film from the French Canadian director whose previous works include I Killed My Mother and Heartbeats.

The film stars Harrington, Thandie Newton, Susan Sarandon, Natalie Portman and Kathy Bates and Ben Schnetzer. It focuses on a TV actor whose life is turned upside down when a gossip columnist exposes his correspondence with a young fan.    

Newton, who was appearing on the panel along side Harrington, also voiced her support for queer actors getting straight roles.

“It is changing, but we have to get behind those changes and keep pushing it,” Newton said.

Harrington will be back on our TV screens as Jon Snow when Games of Thrones final season airs in 2019.

OIP Staff