Any comic book fan will tell you that the sprawling multiverse that is Marvel Comics includes a ton of queer superheroes. But so far none of those characters have made it into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Now, Captain America: Civil War directors Joe and Anthony Russo say the ball is in their court when it comes to including LGBT superheroes in future films. “It’s incumbent upon us as storytellers who are making mass-appeal movies to…diversify as much as possible,” said Joe Russo in an interview with Collider. Meanwhile, Anthony suggested that the massive success of the blockbuster franchise could give the filmmakers the leeway to include queer characters without affecting their appeal in less LGBT-friendly markets like China and Russia.
Of course, many of Marvel’s most popular and prominent gay heroes are tied up in the X-Men franchise, which is owned by 20th Century Fox. (Gay director Bryan Singer has included characters like Iceman and Colossus, who were later revealed to be gay in the comics, but oddly has avoided any mention of Mystique’s long established bi-sexuality.) But Marvel Studios presumably still owns the film rights to Young Avengers and long-time couple Wiccan and Hulkling. And with Spider-Man and Black Panther appearing in Captain America: Civil War, that opens up the possibility of future appearances by Ultimate Spider-Woman (a lesbian Peter Parker clone from the same universe as Samuel L. Jackson’s version of Nick Fury) and the Dora Milaje (Black Panther’s all-female bodyguards, two of whom were revealed to be lesbians in writer Ta-Nehisi Coates’s run on the series).
Though the Russo bros. stopped short of promising to include any specific queer characters, it’s definitely encouraging that they’re open and enthusiastic about the idea of a more diverse super squad. Which other LGBT heroes would you like to see in Marvel movies?
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Xzamilio
They’re always “open” to it… but it hardly ever comes to fruition, now does it?
Brian
They’re open to gay super heroes??? Yeah, right.
Louis
Ill believe it when I see it they always say stuff like this and it never happens.
They have to satisfy their bigoted fan base no surprise.
DCguy
Hollywood liars are no different than politicians.
How many interviews have their been where people in Hollywood talk about how LGBT friendly they are, and then never EVER put any in the movies. Look, Hollywood still doesn’t put interacial couples in movies! No way these guys will do ANYTHING in spite of their comments.
Brian
Hollywood is financed by very conservative men. Think Saudi Arabian businessmen, for instance. Even American financiers are very conservative when it comes to male homosexuality in movies. They will refuse to finance anything that includes it.
Tommy91
There are already a couple of LGBT characters in the MCU, Hogarth on Jessica Jones and Joey on Agents of SHIELD, also according to “All Hail the King” Justin Hammer could also be an LGBT character and Dottie from Agent Carter is either extremely obsessed with Peggy or she’s also an LGBT character, so I don’t find it that insane that an LGBT would show up on a Marvel movie
Tommy91
@Louis: marvel’s fan base isn’t exactly bigoted if you consider the number of LGBT characters in the marvel comics and how two of them (Wiccan aND Hulkling) have been fan favorites who have rarely been without a comic since their introduction and are currently headlining an Avengers title, if there’s someone they’re trying to satisfy by not adding LGBT characters it’s the mainstream audience, after all there are LGBT characters in their Netflix shows, TV shows and one-shots.
Tommy91
@DCguy: well, technically Justin Hammer the villain of Iron Man 2 is gay or bi, and there are LGBT characters in the other areas of the MCU
Captain Obvious
As lily white as Marvel has been keeping the “main characters” of the Avengers franchise it’s funny how they claim to be open to anything “different”.
And before anyone mentions that they have black heroes in their movies they’re all minor supporting characters. They may get a scene or two in any given movie.
Don’t hold your breath for a gay character.
Captain Obvious
@Tommy91: Agents of Shield is garbage. People started petitioning in droves for Fitz and Mack when we all noticed major chemistry between them. Fitz even checked Mack out, cannon, on screen.
When Marvel got wind of the petition and frenzy over those two they separated them completely, rushed Fitz into a relationship with Simmons, and made Mack an asexual sidekick to Daisy. I didn’t even know Joey was supposed to be gay, he barely exists on the show at all.
Fact of the matter is they saw a huge outcry for a gay couple, one that had a budding on screen relationship complete with nicknames, and they completely erased it almost as if to say “NO HOMO!”.
Chico
@Captain Obvious: Black Panther’s solo film is to be released next year I believe, but I see your point and agree with you. It’d be nice to see them expand.