The Marvel universe is finally introducing its first gay character
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is getting its first openly gay character, it has been confirmed.
Incredibly, the blockbuster film and TV universe – which spans from Iron Man to the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy to Daredevil – is yet to feature an openly LGBT character.
However, upcoming Marvel TV series Jessica Jones, set to debut on Netflix next month, will feature an out character for the first time.
The first episode was screened at New York Comic Con over the weekend – and viewers report that the show features a diverse cast of characters.
Carrie-Anne Moss joins the series as attorney Jeri Hogarth, a lesbian character shown cheating on her partner with another woman. The role has been gender-swapped from the characters comic-book incarnation, Jeryn Hogarth.
Vulture also reports that there are also suggestions that eponymous hero Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) is bisexual or sexually fluid, with hints of a previous relationship with best friend Trish ‘Patsy’ Walker (Rachael Taylor).
The move marks a turn-around from the MCU, which has previously won commercial success by appealing to as broad a global market as possible through films like the Avengers.
Marvel TV show Agents of SHIELD has also introduced a gay character this month, Joey.
Jeremy Renner, who plays Hawkeye in the MCU, recently spoke about gay rumours.
He said: “I’m not going to try to prove what I am or am not. It’s silly, right?
“When you Google yourself and the first thing that comes up is ‘Jeremy Renner gay,’ it’s like, ‘Oh, now you’ve arrived. You’re now a giant movie star.’
“I don’t care, ultimately, if that’s what people want to think, read and care about. F*cking say whatever the hell you want about me.”
