One of the vital in style reveals of the twenty first century, Squid Recreation, is coming again for one more season, displaying that Netflix actually can not help themselves. As a substitute of constructing a straightforward copy of the primary season, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk determined to attempt to make the never-planned-for follow-up to his dynamite present a couple of lethal sport present one thing totally different. Nonetheless, creating an authentically totally different story set in Korea proved far tougher than Dong-hyuk thought.
When creating the upcoming season of Squid Recreation, Dong-hyuk knew he wished to inform a variety of genuine tales. But, the social stigma surrounding trans folks, particularly in a culturally conservative nation like South Korea, made it arduous for the present creator to discover a transgender actress keen to overtly play the function of a trans individual within the upcoming season. Dong-hyuk informed The Wrap about the way it was practically inconceivable to discover a trans Korean actress to play the function.
“Once we researched in Korea, there are near no actors which might be overtly trans, not to mention overtly homosexual, as a result of sadly within the Korean society at present the LGBTQ neighborhood is slightly nonetheless marginalized and extra uncared for, which is heartbreaking.” – Hwang Dong-hyuk
Though it’s heartbreaking that no Korean transgender actresses could also be keen to be open about their id, it is sensible why they would not wish to. Queer identities are closely stigmatized and discouraged in South Korean tradition, so people who do establish as queer usually don’t accomplish that overtly for concern of being focused with both verbal or bodily assaults. Dong-hyuk may need wished to inform his trans character’s story authentically, however Korean tradition compelled him to solid a cisgender male, actor Park Sung-hoon to play the function in order that the trans character would not must be lower from the present.
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Ought to Trans Tales Be Portrayed By Cis Actors?
The historical past of transgender illustration on tv is scarce and sometimes fairly reductive, with trans characters, actors, and actresses steadily compelled to play stereotypes or be the butt of a joke. Most trans roles had been portrayed by cisgender actors, like Jared Leto in Dallas Consumers Membership—for which he received an Oscar. As extra actors and actresses really feel secure sufficient to overtly establish as transgender, illustration of the neighborhood is rising, which can end in extra tales and illustration of precise trans folks.
In a great leisure business, queer folks and tales can be handled like cisgender/straight tales are—plentiful and in a position to exist with out being seen as a monolith. Nonetheless, in some international locations, like South Korea, there’s nonetheless a protracted method to go. Hopefully, that adjustments over time, and folks change into extra tolerant of queerness basically.
However with Pixar eradicating all point out of the trans id of a personality of their upcoming animated present—for which they employed a trans actress to voice—resulting from exterior complaints and stress, audiences are reminded that, in some methods, having cisgender actors play trans roles may be higher than not having any trans characters or tales in media in any respect. It is unlucky that Squid Recreation 2‘s solely route was this, however hopefully the portrayal will pave the best way for additional acceptance of the neighborhood in South Korea and Dong-hyuk will have the ability to solid an overtly trans actor or actress in season three.