You don’t often get gay character in major mainstream movies, except perhaps playing the fool in romantic comedies. However, after the very straight worlds of Twilight and The Hunger Games, the upcoming The Mortal Instuments: City Of Bones is shaking things up in the young adult world with the inclusion of the gay Alec Lightwood, played by 28-year-old Kevin Zegers.

Now the recently married actor has been talking to Bello, via E!, about the role and his attitude towards gay characters in major movies like this. “The thing that I didn’t want was for him to be some generic, prototypical character, what people would expect from the gay character,” Zegers said. “For me, it was about creating a character whose sexuality didn’t matter…I actually don’t think it’s that big of a fucking issue anymore. Certainly not with me, and especially not with the generation that read this book. So it wasn’t something that we really focused on.

“But one thing I was aware of was the fact that there haven’t been many great examples of a really strong gay character, one of the leads in a really big movie who happens to be gay and who’s also kind of a bad-ass.”

The movie is about Clary Fray (Lily Collins), who thinks she is an ordinary teenager until she discovers that she’s part of a secret cadre of half-angel warriors – the Shadowhunters – who are tasked with protecting humanity in an ancient battle against demonic forces.

When Clary’s mother is kidnapped, she discovers a secret connection to fellow Shadowhunter Jace Wayland (Jamie Campbell Bower) and that beneath surface of the city exists another world…one she unknowingly belongs to. As both Clary and best friend Simon (Robert Sheehan) are drawn into this dark and dangerous world, Clary realises Jace is both the key to uncovering her past and protecting her future.

Assuming the movie follows Cassandra Clare’s books, Alec is another Shadowhunter. He starts out being in denial (at least publicly) about his sexuality, which makes him rather angry. He’s initially attracted to Jace, but later in the series, when he realises his feelings will never be returned, he starts to date and falls in love with Magnus Bane, a warlock who is immortal and 800 years old.

We also have to say, Zegers is looking good on the Bello cover! [Read more…]