Made for Disney+ but bumped to Hulu, theLove, Simonspinoff gently challenges the typical gay narrative.
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Victor, purposefully, isnt.
Hes from a ColombianPuerto Rican family, with religious parents who dont think kindly of gay people.
Victor responds like hessomeone who sawLove, Simonand got fed up.
My story is nothing like yours.
There is a lot ofLove, Victors story that is likeLove, Simons.
The one piece of feedback we heard consistently was that Simons story was one particular version of coming out.
It was, intentionally, a wish-fulfillment, charmed version of a coming-out story, Aptaker said.
There are plots about sex and drinking and a story line about adultery involving Victors parents.
We wanted to do a show where 16-year-olds were behaving like 16-year-olds do, Aptaker said.
Its not necessarily something that you want your 8-year-old to absorb.
It was exciting to say,What can we do differently?
This was the version of that story that felt worthwhile to explore.
But then we would ask them, What if two guys came into the cafeteria one day holding hands?
And they were like, That has never happened.
To him, that meant trying to depict a family that is huggy and loving like his own.
An accurate description, he said.
Not like,These Latino people are so loud.
Cimino currently identifies as straight and has dated women, but he hesitates to put himself in a box.
Aptaker saidLove, Victorconsidered looking for a gay lead during the casting process but ultimately settled on Cimino.
He also described conversations in the writers room where everyone tried to find moments of gay wish-fulfillment.
But Tanen remembered that it was also a scene that gave Disney+ executives pause.
They, understandably, worried about this kid-in-a-bar situation, he said.
I was trying to explain its not a scary experience.
Its a feeling that gay people understand and know.
From the perspective of someone tired of stories about respectable gay TV characters,Love, Victormight feel quaint.
From the perspective of others including, apparently, some studio executives its risky.
To me, one answers the other.
It wants to be many things to many people both authentic and wish-fulfillment, both family-appropriate and mature.
So, what lies ahead forLove, Victoron Hulu?
Probably not a sex-filled, gay version ofNormal People, but at least a story that tilts more adult.
She and Aptaker pointed to Hulus other YA shows likeLooking for AlaskaandRunawaysas similar in tone toLove, Victor.
Plus, Tanen promised that Victor will do more than just some passionate kissing.
