Billy Porter says the upcoming remake of “Cinderella,” in which he stars alongside Camila Cabello, is “for a new generation.”
“It’s not about women needing a man for validation,” the actor told Insider. “It’s about women empowering themselves, and that’s a really great message to be sending out into the world.”
Porter, 50, says he didn’t understand the impact of his role until he was on set.
“That was when it really hit me, the magnitude of what this means,” he said. “They hired me to be me. That’s just part of this kind of success, is that they’re calling me to now be myself.”
The “Pose” star will play Fairy Godmother — now called Fab G — in the remake, a role that is typically associated with women. However, Porter told CBS News the role is “genderless” because “magic has no gender.”
“We are presenting this character as genderless — at least that’s how I’m playing it. And it’s really powerful,” he said.
Porter told Insider that being part of “Cinderella” helps him use his status as a well-known actor to make an impact.
“Who I am and what I represent is very specific and really shows that this moment is about inclusivity and moving the needle towards self-acceptance and humanity and self-care and all those things,” he said.
Pierce Brosnan, Idina Menzel and Nicholas Galitzine are also confirmed to star in the film. The movie will be Cabello’s acting debut.
“She really understands what’s happened to her, and she’s thankful and grateful and all the things that you would like to see,” he said of the 23-year-old. “This is her first movie, so she’s just a sponge and it’s really sweet to see.”
The new “Cinderella” will be a musical comedy that takes the traditional movie and interprets the princess as a young, ambitious heroine who has big dreams, reports Variety.
“Cinderella” is set to release Feb. 5, 2021.
Ref;nypost.com