Wentworth Miller is following up on a recent Instagram post.
Earlier this week, the 48-year-old actor, who is openly gay, said that he is “officially” done playing Michael Scofield in any possible Prison Break reboots because he doesn’t want to play straight characters anymore.
After his post, many fans urged Prison Break to make Michael gay, but Wentworth is not down for that suggestion.
“Forgive me – I need to put my finger on something. In and around the ‘reveal’ I’m gay IRL, don’t wish to play straight parts etc., I saw dozens of comments suggesting Michael leave Sara for T-bag. Or that T-bag will be “looking” for Michael/me,” Wentworth wrote on Instagram on Saturday (November 21).
“Is it possible, to some folks, T-Bag = ‘gay’ rep on PB? Maybe the ONLY rep on TV in their part of the world?” Wentworth wrote. “Forget the homophobes + zealots (bec f–k them) – for the queer kids, the queer adults who will never come out bec coming out = death in their part of the world… is T-bag the best they can expect?”
Wentworth then went on to call out Hollywood for not telling more gay stories.
“I’ve said one of the lies Hollywood tells is the screen is sacred and actors are gods. It isn’t and they aren’t,” Wentworth went on. “Storytelling is sacred. Older than civilization, it’s how we try and make sense of where we’ve been. Are. Where we’re going. Hollywood is just the shiny straw thru which the sacred is (currently) channeled. Stories matter. Balanced, responsible storytelling matters. You never know who’s watching. Or where.”
He continued: “‘Dude. Lighten up. It’s a show.’ Etc. I hear you. AND Hollywood is never not sending messages. IMO. Even when we don’t think what we’re watching has A Message, messages are being sent. About gender, sex, race, dating, power, politics…”
Wentworth then admitted to taking on certain roles just for a paycheck, but now he wants to take on roles where he can tell a story that isn’t told over and over again.
“A lot of folks in Hollywood don’t want to accept this. IMO. How fast – how far – their stories fly,” Wentworth added. “A lot of folks (yes, I’ve been one) check out and cash checks, turn blind eyes to messages sent. I see the impact on this page. Many experience it IRL.”
“‘We’re makin’ fast food here,’ a producer said to my co-star on another ‘genre’ show (not PB), revealing contempt for the material AND audience,” Wentworth said. “I don’t mind a little fast food in my diet. It’s an issue if my diet is exclusively fast food. It’s an issue if a large percentage of your audience only consumes fast food shows. We can’t assume @disclosuredoc et al. are also on the menu (or even available).”
He concluded: “Are fast food shows Hollywood’s best chance to send messages that evolve/expand, add nutrition to less-than-ideal diets? If so, I’d argue those shows become MORE important, not less. Deserve more respect. Nuance. Intention. Better representation. Because their audiences do too. – W.M. 🏳️🌈”
If you missed it, TVLine recently revealed that Wentworth will be reprising his role as Isaiah Holmes on Law & Order: SVU for an upcoming episode set to air in early 2021.
