BREAKING MOVIE/TV NEWS

Saturday, September 23, 2017

"Freedom Fighters: The Ray"



According to reports, Brit actor Russell Tovey aka 'Midshipman Frame' from "Doctor Who", will voice DC Comics' 1941 superhero 'The Ray' in the CW Seed animated  series "Freedom Fighters: The Ray", followed by a live-action take in The CW's 'Arrowverse', as a 'gay' superhero, fulfilling producer Greg Berlanti's determination to step up 'LGBT' themes in all of his TV series:


"Raymond 'Ray' Terrill was a reporter who discovered a group of government scientists...


"...working on a secret project to turn light into a weapon of mass destruction. 


"But before he could report on his findings, the project head exposed Ray to a 'genetic light bomb.' 


"The bomb failing to kill Ray, gifted him with light-based powers. 


"With these abilities, Ray realized he could go beyond reporting on injustice — he could take action to help stop it. 


"Calling himself 'The Ray', he was recruited by the 'Freedom Fighters' to fight 'oppression' wherever it exists..."


Berlanti is a producer on the live-action, DC Comics' TV series "Arrow", "The Flash", "Legends Of Tomorrow", "Supergirl",  "Black Lightning" and "Titans".  


"The next step is to add a regular character, not just a recurring one, who is openly gay on the next round of these shows," said Berlanti, "because I think that’s important...


"I can remember when there were storylines with gay characters on shows like 'Family' and 'Dynasty' and thinking, I have something in common with that person," Berlanti told The Advocate. "This was way before the internet and all the visibility that has brought with it. But back then, you really felt alone and when I saw those characters on TV, I knew I wasn't alone..."


Previously, as a writer and producer on "Dawson’s Creek", Berlanti tinkered with the main characters sexuality, following up with more 'inclusive' moments in the series "Jack & Bobby", "Everwood", "Brothers & Sisters" and the 2012 miniseries "Political Animals".


According to The Advocate both "Arrow" and "The Flash" have cast openly gay lead actors including Andy Mientus as 'Pied Piper', Wentworth Miller as 'Captain Cold', Victor Garber as the creator of 'Firestorm: The Nuclear Man', and John Barrowman as 'Oliver Queen' nemesis 'Malcolm Merlyn'.


"...I love it when we get to cast openly gay actors in a role that other people may not cast that person in," said Berlanti, "because it’s nice to remind everybody of what they can do."


"The primary agenda has to be telling great stories. As a means toward that, it’s about opening up your own world. And if you do that, I think everything gets better."


The CW is now readying a 'Valentine's Day'-themed episode of "Supergirl" that will see a budding gay romance between 'Alex' (Chyler Leigh) and her new girlfriend 'Maggie' (Floriana Lima).


Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Freedom Fighters: The Ray"...