{{wiktionary, gender-flip
A gender flip is when a fictional character is created to have a different sex in another setting or in an adaptation of a work. The Internet meme
Rule 63
Rule 63 is an Internet meme that states that, as a rule, "for every given male character, there is a female version of that character" and vice versa. It is one of the "Rules of the Internet" that began in 2006 as a Netiquette guide on 4chan and ...
predicts the prevalence of this.
Notable examples
*
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
' companion
Dr. John Watson
John H. Watson, known as Dr. Watson, is a fictional character in the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Along with Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson first appeared in the novel ''A Study in Scarlet'' (1887). The last work by Doyle fe ...
(male) are in some adaptations changed to females: Joan Watson in '' Elementary'' (2012 TV series) or Jane Watson in ''
The Return of Sherlock Holmes
''The Return of Sherlock Holmes'' is a 1905 collection of 13 Sherlock Holmes stories, originally published in 1903–1904, by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle. The stories were published in the '' Strand Magazine'' in Britain and ''Collier's'' i ...
'' (1987 film)
* '' Foundation'' (1951 novel) character Gaal Dornick was changed to Gall Dornick (female) in '' Foundation'' (2021 TV series)
* ''
Starship Troopers
''Starship Troopers'' is a military science fiction novel by American writer Robert A. Heinlein. Written in a few weeks in reaction to the US suspending nuclear tests, the story was first published as a two-part serial in ''The Magazine of F ...
'' (1959 novel) character Dizzy Flores (male) was changed to a female in ''
Starship Troopers
''Starship Troopers'' is a military science fiction novel by American writer Robert A. Heinlein. Written in a few weeks in reaction to the US suspending nuclear tests, the story was first published as a two-part serial in ''The Magazine of F ...
'' (1997 film)
* ''
Dune
A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, f ...
'' (1965 novel) character
Liet-Kynes
The following is a list of secondary fictional characters from the science fiction media franchise '' Dune'' created by Frank Herbert. The characters listed originate in Herbert's novel series (1965–1985), but some also appear in the ''Prelude ...
(male) was changed to a female in ''
Dune
A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, f ...
'' (2021 film)
* '' Bedazzled'' (1967 film) character the Devil (male) was changed to a female in '' Bedazzled'' (2000 film)
* '' The Wicker Man'' (1973 film) character Lord Summerisle (male) was changed to Sister Summersisle (female) in '' The Wicker Man'' (2006 film)
* '' Dead Ringers'' (1988 film) characters Beverly & Elliot Mantle (males) were change to females in ''Dead Ringers'' (2023 miniseries)
* ''
12 Monkeys
''12 Monkeys'' is a 1995 American science fiction film directed by Terry Gilliam, inspired by Chris Marker's 1962 short film ''La Jetée'', starring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, and Brad Pitt, with Christopher Plummer and David Morse in sup ...
'' (1995 film) character Jeffrey Goines (male) was changed to Jennifer Goines (female) in ''
12 Monkeys
''12 Monkeys'' is a 1995 American science fiction film directed by Terry Gilliam, inspired by Chris Marker's 1962 short film ''La Jetée'', starring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, and Brad Pitt, with Christopher Plummer and David Morse in sup ...
'' (2015 TV series)
* The 2022 '' DreamWorks'' The Bad Guys, had Mr. Tarantula's gender swapped to a girl in the film.
See also
*
Rule 63
Rule 63 is an Internet meme that states that, as a rule, "for every given male character, there is a female version of that character" and vice versa. It is one of the "Rules of the Internet" that began in 2006 as a Netiquette guide on 4chan and ...
an
Internet meme
An Internet meme, commonly known simply as a meme ( ), is an idea, behavior, style, or image that is spread via the Internet, often through social media platforms. What is considered a meme may vary across different communities on the Internet ...
that states that, as a rule, "for every given male character, there is a female version of that character" and vice versa.
* Cross-gender acting, when actors or actresses portray a character of the opposite sex
References
Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse (AFP) is a French international news agency headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 1835 as Havas, it is the world's oldest news agency.
AFP has regional headquarters in Nicosia, Montevideo, Hong Kong and Washington, D.C ...