Actor, activist, and author Jacob Tobia announced via the Prism by Netflix Instagram on Monday that they will voice a new character in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Season 4, which debuts on Nov. 5. Tobia’s character is Double Trouble, a shapeshifting, non-binary mercenary who was first introduced at the series’ NYCC 2019 panel, creating significant buzz in the fandom.
Double Trouble hails from the Crimson Waste, and they join Catra and the Horde in Season 4. In addition to being able to transform themself into any person they see, Double Trouble has “the soul of a thespian,” and they spend hours in “character study” to perfectly mimic their target. Like any thespian, Double Trouble is always open to feedback — as long as it isn’t negative.
It’s a massive win for representation that a non-binary actor is voicing a non-binary character; in fact, Tobia is one of the first. They are a writer, producer, and performer whose bestselling memoir Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story hit shelves earlier this year. Tobia is a member of the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and the OUT 100; their writing and advocacy have been featured across international platforms for years.
In Monday’s announcement video, Tobia says, “So, functionally, I’m playing myself. Fantasy has always been so, like, vital to me because as a non-binary person, it’s a way of escaping the confines of the world we live in, right? It’s the way of building other realities and imagining the world as it could be, not as it is.”
They continue, “Having non-binary representation in animated shows for young folks is just so vital because young people today are already understanding that gender is diverse and a broad spectrum from a super early age, right?”
When Double Trouble was initially announced, some expressed concern that the only non-binary character in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is seemingly evil. Representation is amazing, but not if it inherently associates certain identities with villainy. However, as others were quick to note, the season hasn’t debuted yet, and showrunner Noelle Stevenson and the writers seem to take great care with how they present the citizens of Etheria, especially those who are under the LGBTQ umbrella.
See Jacob Tobia in the casting announcement video below and stay tuned for more She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. To keep up with Tobia on social media, follow them on Twitter and Instagram.
Correction: The original version of this post incorrectly stated that Jacob Tobia is the first non-binary actor to voice a non-binary animated character.
