Empire creator Lee Daniels announces gay superhero movie

Lee Daniels, the openly gay creator of Empire and director of Precious, says that he’s finally fulfilling his dream of working on a gay superhero film.

Daniels made the announcement in an Instagram video in which he is seen next to Dremon Cooper, whose Super Bitch superhero character has become an online sensation.

“Y’all remember maybe 10, 12 years ago I said my dream was to make a gay superhero film?” Daniels asked. “Dreams do come true. And I found my superhero. America, world, get ready,” he said.

The amazingly athletic Cooper has racked up almost 200,000 followers on his @hesosoutheast Instagram account thanks his entertaining videos in which he ‘beats up’ homophobes while wearing pink stiletto boots.

Daniels, who was nominated for an Oscar for directing 2009’s Precious, said in the caption for the video that the planned film is “not my next one… but it’s in the pipeline”, using the hashtag #gaysuperhero.

Dremon commented on Daniels’ post, expressing his excitement: “Dreams really do come true!! I had the pleasure of meeting the one and only [Lee Daniels]. You’re an amazing man filled with great ideas. I [can’t] wait to work with you.”

A week ago, Daniels revealed that his cousin had recently been beaten in a hate crime. “I’m compelled to talk to my gay brothers and sisters, youth and adult, to tell you that it’s OK to be who you are, to stand firmly in your shoes and be exactly who you want to be,” he said.

“This past week my cousin was beat up for being gay and I am sick of hearing these stories. It’s the beginning of a new year and we need to do better. We need to continue to remember to love and to turn against the hate that we’re seeing out there.”

In 2016, Daniels received the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Equality Award for his ground-breaking representation of African American LGBTI issues and characters in Empire.

….10 years ago folks thought I was crazy when I said I wanted to make a gay superhero flick…. it’s not my next one… but it’s in the pipeline ????????????? #gaysuperhero

A post shared by Lee Daniels (@theoriginalbigdaddy) on Jan 15, 2019 at 9:49am PST

WARNING: THE LANGUAGE OR ACTION USED IN THIS CONTENT IS ONLY FOR ENTERTAINMENT & COMEDIC PURPOSES. IT DOES NOT REPRESENT THE FEELINGS OF THE PARTICIPANTS. THIS POST IS NOT INTENDED TO PROMOTE VIOLENCE OR THE USE OF WEAPONS IN ANY WAY. ALL PROPS ARE FAKE. WE DO NOT ENCOURAGE VIEWERS TO TRY THIS AT HOME. 2019 I’m not taking no shit??#tagafriend #yourfavoritebitchinheels #message #comedy video creds: @vintagebratny

A post shared by Super B*tch ?????????????? (@hesosoutheast) on Dec 29, 2018 at 11:16am PST

This past week my cousin was beat up for being gay and I am sick of hearing these stories. It’s the beginning of a new year and we need to do better. We need to continue to remember to love and to turn against the hate that we’re seeing out there. But we all need to fight that fight together. For all the people who are hurting, who are struggling, and who are trying to find some meaning in this life, I am here to say if you need a safe place or a ear to listen, then I’m here. I’m listening to what you’re saying and what you’re going through. I am standing up for you and will continue to fight for you. This is my mission and message to you for the beginning of 2019. If you are struggling check out the link in my bio and please go to @glaad @humanrightscampaign @trevorproject ????

A post shared by Lee Daniels (@theoriginalbigdaddy) on Jan 10, 2019 at 12:53pm PST