“In the books in his inception, the world very much was portrayed to be Eurocentric.
He had very blond hair, was blue-eyed.
“Tech just doesn’t look like Bill Gates and Elon Musk.
Tian Richards on ‘Tom Swift’.Fernando Decillis/The CW
That’s not something that Richards takes lightly.
He quickly adds with a laugh, “But I didn’t want to aspire to be Omar.
But still just to see him visually, that meant a lot.
Tian Richard and Hayward Leach on ‘Tom Swift’.The CW
If I had seenTom Swift,younger me would’ve been more quick to allow myself to be free.
It wouldn’t have been such a long journey to self-acceptance.”
It’s not just Tom’s qualities that make the character so meaningful to Richards and viewers.
Donovin Mills, Tian Richards, and April Parker Jones on ‘Tom Swift’.Eliza Morse/The CW
Because even though Tom is of the one percent of the elite culture, he still has human issues.
He wasn’t one thing.
I didn’t think that would get that real, but it did, in the best ways.”
This taught me that it is and I am.
I didn’t know that would make me feel that way.”
That still blows my mind.
If I’m starting there, it’s boundless to where I can go.
I can’t wait to see it."
Tom Swiftairs Tuesdays on The CW.
