The team at Marvel Studios has been hinting at plans for a while now to bring further LGBTQ representation into the MCU, and in the midst of promoting Avengers: Endgame, director Joe Russo reaffirmed that this is the case.
While attending a Marvel fan event in India, the filmmaker was asked if the time was right for an openly LGBTQ superhero to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe, to which he said:
“One hundred percent and you will see one very soon.”
There are a few developments that Russo might be hinting at here. For one thing, the MCU technically already has at least one LGBTQ character in Valkyrie. And while the warrior’s bisexuality went unacknowledged in Thor: Ragnarok, the heroine is confirmed to return this month in Endgame. After that, Spider-Man: Far From Home will feature trans actor Zach Barack in an undisclosed role. What’s more, next year’s The Eternals is heavily rumored to feature the MCU’s first openly gay lead actor, perhaps in the role of Hercules.
In any case, it’s very clear by now that it’s a matter of when rather than if the franchise will bring an openly LGBTQ superhero into the mix. Just a few weeks ago, in fact, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige also mentioned that this development is currently “percolating.” And last month, executive vice president of production Victoria Alonso claimed that “the world is ready” for a gay superhero.
Nonetheless, Marvel Studios is likely to stay tight-lipped on its future plans at least until after Avengers: Endgame hits theaters on April 26th. Speaking of which, the first tickets for the Avengers: Infinity War sequel are expected to go on sale tomorrow, so eager MCU fans may want to watch this space for an announcement very soon.