Disney and Pixar have unveiled a teaser trailer for their latest film, and as always, Gay Twitter™️ has thots thoughts.
Viewers got a first look at Luca, the gay-friendly animation studio’s forthcoming feature from Academy Award-nominated director Enrico Casarosa (La Luna), this Thursday, February 25. The trailer shows two young boys, best friends Alberto and Luca, band together for “the best summer ever” in the Italian countryside…that is, until they realize that they both turn into merpeople whenever water touches their skin.
Twitter users were quick to draw parallels between Luca and Call Me by Your Name, filmmaker Luca Guadagnino’s 2017 adaptation of the queer romance novel by André Aciman.
Ok but this is the better version of call me by your name https://t.co/3C8JgxJ4lx
— Moving back to @MikelleStreet (@mikelledstreet) February 25, 2021
For example, both stories take place in the Italian Rivera. They also feature boys hiding who they really are (in Luca’s case, merpeople) from the outside world. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time a supernatural element was employed as an allegory for being queer or closeted.
Oh hi gay allegory #Luca https://t.co/iMzEBiFc85
— Briggon Snow (@BriggonSnow) February 25, 2021
Imagine watching this trailer and thinking they're NOT gay #Luca #PixarLuca pic.twitter.com/MJJy3Gk9rW
— David Opie (@DavidOpie) February 25, 2021
Toy Story: what if toys had feelings
Monsters inc: what if monsters had feelings
Inside Out: what if feelings had feelings
Luca: what if italians were gay— Mario Graciotti (@MarioGraciotti) February 25, 2021
Luca said gay rights. Call me by your name could never pic.twitter.com/8ajzmfRk2Y
— ArthurTheeIllustrator (@ArthurDraws247) February 25, 2021
#disney and #Pixar #Luca definitely looks like the story is a straight up metaphor for 2 gay boys in a world of #homophobia
Disney did so good with the short #out on #DisneyPlus, I wonder if they have the stones to make a movie with gay leads. #representationmatters pic.twitter.com/ddYzl8FC7P
— SC King (He/Him)✊️❤️ (@ZaneTheGenie) February 25, 2021
Is Luca an explicitly queer coming-of-age tale, or just a heartfelt film about two male BFFs who are “different”? We’ll have to wait until this summer to find out: The film is slated to premiere June 18, 2021.