Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter endorse content warning over homophobic slurs in original Bill & Ted films
Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter in 1989’s Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter have responded to a content warning over homophobic slurs in the Bill & Ted movies.
Keanu Reeves approves of content warning on original Bill & Ted films due to abhorrent use of homophobic slurs
The pair, who starred in 1989’s Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and 1991’s Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, have returned to the franchise for new film Bill & Ted Face the Music.
One thing that the latest film does not replicate is the high levels of homophobia in the first two films, with anti-gay slurs used casually by the characters.
Like many old movies containing outdated content, rereleases of the original Bill & Ted films have included a disclaimer, which states: “This film reflects historical attitudes which audiences might find outdated or offensive.”
Disclaimer is simply ‘reflecting the content’ of Bill & Ted, stars say.
In an interview with Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review, Winter and Reeves were asked about the disclaimer.
Winter said: “In terms of the caveat, that would only refer to the homophobic slurs that we had in both of the first two movies which were extremely common but totally disparaging and not appropriate terminology back then.
“Other than that, the first movies are extremely wholesome. I think the third one stays in line with that whole vibe. I would hardly look at the first two movies being radical, offensive films other than that, which no one was happy about and we certainly didn’t intend to repeat.”
Reeves concurred: “I guess it’s a product that’s going out into the world.
“I guess it’s kind of reflecting some of the content and letting somebody who’s watching the film know exactly that, so they’re not taken by surprise by it.”
Alex Winter previously made his support for trans rights clear after fans declared Bill a “trans icon”.
Keanu Reeves is set to reprise another iconic role.
Bill & Ted star Keanu Reeves (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
In addition to the Bill & Ted revival, Keanu Reeves is set to reprise another one of his best-known film roles when he returns to work as Neo on The Matrix 4.
Lilly Wachowski, who created the seminal film trilogy with her sister Lana, confirmed earlier this year that The Matrix was written as an allegory for the transgender experience – long before either of them came out as trans.
Responding to the revelation, Reeves told Yahoo Entertainment: “I never spoke to Lilly about that, she never conveyed that to me.
“I think The Matrix films are profound, and I think that allegorically, a lot of people in different versions of the film can speak to that.
