The death of gay movie producer and novelist Perry Moore last week is a personal tragedy for those closest to him. It has also prematurely robbed the rest of us of a modern day role model, a successful gay man unashamed of both his sexuality and his faith who was able to put differences aside and persuade ultra conservative billionaire Philip Anschutz into bankrolling the movie adaptations of Moore’s beloved Narnia Chronicles.

The comic book and children’s literature fan was also an accomplished writer himself and penned the award winning young adult novel Hero. This groundbreaking story of a gay teen superhero dealing with the twin angst of secret super powers and same sex attraction was at one point being developed as a TV show with Spiderman and X-Men creator Stan Lee.

According to an MTV report a feature television adaptation of Hero is still in development, now at cable network Starz, but Moore’s death puts a big question mark over any movie version. At the time of his death he was reported to be writing a follow-up novel.

It would be a real shame if Hero didn’t make it to the screen – a gay hero is so desperately needed and a movie version would make a fitting legacy for Moore. In his own words:

I have always been enthralled with comic books and superheroes, and I’ve always believed there should be a gay superhero. Not as a joke, not as a supporting character, not as a victim, not as a token, but as a real front-and-centre hero.”