Marvel set to announce new gay character, Endgame directors claim
Avengers: Endgame directors have said a gay character will feature in upcoming films (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty)
Marvel is set to announce the introduction of a new gay character in an upcoming film, according to the directors of Avengers: Endgame.
In an interview with SiriusXM, Anthony and Joe Russo talked about Avengers: Endgame, which introduced the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) first openly gay character.
On the topic of LGBT+ Marvel characters, Joe Russo confirmed that a gay character will appear in the near future.
“There is a gay character coming up in one of the films,” Joe said. “I think Kevin [Feige] will make that announcement, I’m sure pretty soon.”
Marvel has been hinting at LGBT+ characters for months
Joe made the comments during a conversation about his cameo in Avengers: Endgame, where he appeared as Marvel’s first openly gay character.
There have been many hints about LGBT+ characters in upcoming Marvel films in recent months.
“There is a gay character coming up in one of the films. I think Kevin [Feige] will make that announcement, I’m sure pretty soon.”
– Joe Russo, Avengers: Endgame director
In March, openly gay Marvel exec Victoria Alonso said “the world is ready” for a gay superhero as speculation mounted about upcoming project The Eternals.
Reports suggest that the studio is secretly casting an openly gay man to play the lead role in The Eternals.
In April, Alonso and casting director Sarah Halley Finn expressed their support for more diverse characters in Marvel films in an interview with Vulture.
Chris Evans (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty)
Marvel needs to ‘move faster’ on LGBT+ representation
“You’re gonna see even more new faces—and faces from all different background, all ages, all ethnicities, LGBTQ, people who are differently abled,” Finn said, adding: “It’s a priority to have authenticity, to increase representation, to give greater representation to actors who have not traditionally been represented in mainstream movies on the big screen.”
“We’re just determined to have it be how we do it,” Alonso confirmed. “And if we do it, maybe somebody else will do it … I encourage every studio, every indie production company, every filmmaker out there to make an effort.”
Meanwhile, Brie Larson—who made her debut as Captain Marvel in March—told Variety in April that she wants Marvel to “move faster” in introducing LGBT+ characters.
Last month, Tess Thompson—who plays Valkyrie—revealed that it was her “intention” to play her character as bisexual.
The superhero is openly bisexual in the comics, however, her sexuality has not been represented in the films.
Thompson said they had never explored Valkyrie’s bisexuality because romantic lives of superheroes are not “at the forefront” of Marvel films.
