[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”20414″ img_size=”900×500″ alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]While Marvel Studios is looking for a gay, Asian male lead for The Eternals, it was Avengers: Endgame that featured the first openly homosexual character on screen, though; short as the scene was.
MINOR SPOILER
At some point in the film, Joe Russo (co-director for Endgame) plays a character who is attending a grief counseling meeting after the events of the snap. In this scene, he talks about dating again, after losing the person he cared for due to Thanos; and mentions that he is going on a date again with someone. It’s subtly done, but Russo’s character mentions that said person is a he, which would make this the first time a character openly talks about a same-sex relationship within the MCU. It is a very minor moment and certainly not to the caliber of Deadpool 2, which openly featured a same-sex couple; it is a milestone nonetheless.
Joe Russo commented to Deadline:
“Representation is really important. It was important to us as we did four of these films, we wanted a gay character somewhere in them. We felt it was important that one of us play him, to ensure the integrity and show it is so important to the filmmakers that one of us is representing that. It is a perfect time, because one of the things that is compelling about the Marvel Universe moving forward is its focus on diversity.”
He continued:
“We wanted it to be casual, with the fact that the character is gay tied into the fabric of the storytelling and representing what everyday life is. We’re trying to represent everyone in everyday life. These are global movies that reach a lot of people. They are important to a lot of people and everyone has the right to see themselves on the screen and identify somewhere.”
“We’ve seen it now even in countries where homosexuality isn’t as free as it is here,” Anthony Russo added. “It’s actually one of those elements of these movies that I think resonates in challenged places in the world as well.”
Joe concluded,
“As filmmakers of a massive franchise we’re saying, we support you.”
The scene may have been minor, but this, hopefully; can open up the door to a gay lead in The Eternals, Valkyrie’s bisexuality discussed on screen, and the normalization of same-sex relationships in such a mainstream franchise as the MCU. If Feige is serious about his mission to include diversity in the MCU, then starting the conversation in integrating LGBTQ characters is important.
Avengers: Endgame is out in theaters now!
Source: IndieWire[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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