The Eternals actor leaks details of Marvel’s ‘moving’ first on-screen same-sex kiss
Haaz Sleiman will reportedly play the husband of gay superhero Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) in The Eternals. (Getty)
The Eternals will reportedly show Phastos – the first gay superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) – sharing a “moving” kiss with his husband.
Brian Tyree Henry will play Phastos in The Eternals, who Marvel boss Kevin Feige has already confirmed will be in a same-sex marriage.
Now, the actor will reportedly play Phastos’ husband has given fans a tease of what’s to come.
“We represent a gay family and have a child,” Haaz Sleiman, not yet confirmed for the role, told NewNowNext in a since-deleted video.
He confirmed he had filmed a “beautiful, very moving kiss” with Henry, adding: “Everyone cried on set.”
For me it’s very important to show how loving and beautiful a queer family can be.
Sleiman paid tribute to his co-star, a “tremendous actor” who he said “brought so much beauty into this part.”
“At one point I saw a child in his eyes, and I think it’s important for the world to be reminded that we in the queer community were all children at one point.
“We forget that because we’re always depicted as sexual or rebellious. We forget to connect on that human part.”
Marvel set to introduce not one, but two queer heroes in The Eternals and Thor.
The Eternals arrives in cinemas on November 6.
A year later, on November 5, 2021, Marvel will release Thor: Love and Thunder, which director Taika Waititi “thinks” will explore Valkyrie’s (Tessa Thompson) sexuality.
“The [intellectual property] is not mine,” he told Variety when asked about it, suggesting that he would take Thompson’s lead on the matter.
“With the actors, I feel whatever makes them comfortable – whether they feel like there’s a natural choice, or a natural way for that character to go – then I’m pretty supportive.”
Thompson has already told fans to expect a queer storyline in the upcoming sequel, saying that as Asgard’s new king, “she needs to find her queen”.
Feige has also confirmed that Valkyrie will be openly queer in the film, adding: “How that impacts the story remains to be seen with that level of representation you’ll see across our films, not in just Thor 4.”
