From flamboyant pirates and super spies to mutants and men in capes, Hollywood’s biggest action, fantasy and sci-fi properties have assembled an army of iconic heterosexual heroes over the years.
Thankfully, shows like Torchwood, Arrow, and The Flash have helped level the playing field by bringing queer characters to our favorite fantasy lands on TV. But big-screen adventures in our beloved geeky genres continue to be a virtual wasteland when it comes to LGBTQ inclusion.
The rise of recent hashtags such as #GiveElsaAGirlfriend and #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend highlight the growing number of fanboys and girls who want to see same-sex romance in a big-budget franchise.
As the summer blockbuster season arrives, we ask: Which movie studio will be the first to boldly go where no one has gone before?
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.
Here are 9 Hollywood film franchises that are overdue for a non-hetero hero to join their ranks.
1. The Fast and the Furious
It’s hard to believe with all that testosterone spread out across seven movies we haven’t seen one guy join the crew who likes to drive a stick in the bedroom. With the franchise moving in a new direction after the unfortunate death of Paul Walker, this would be the perfect time to introduce a new guy or girl who moves in the same-sex fast lane.
2. Star Wars
While a small number of LGBT characters have appeared in Star Wars novels, we have yet to see one on the big screen. The creative minds behind our favorite film franchise from far, far away, would be wise to take note of the love affair the internet has had with a possible Finn and Poe romance after the two made their debut – and shared clothes – in Episode VII. The fans have already spoken, and it’s obvious The Force is strong with this one.
3. Star Trek
The racial and gender diversity displayed in the Star Trek universe are just two of the many reasons this franchise has been a favorite of people from every corner of the globe since it debuted in 1966. As Star Trek celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the introduction of new LGBT characters in the films and upcoming TV series would be the perfect way to move the needle forward for progress and honor the inclusive vision Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry had for these voyages in the final frontier.
4. James Bond
5. Pirates of the Caribbean
Sure, Johnny Depp’s flamboyant Captain Jack Sparrow has been a campy good time across four Pirates films, but with a fifth one (and possibly more) on the way, is it too much to ask that one of his shipmates prefer to sail the same-sex seas?
6. X-Men
Technically we have seen an LGBT character prominently featured in the X-Men films thanks to the inclusion of the gender and sexually fluid Mystique, but the blue shapeshifter has always been presented as a heterosexual female in Fox’s films. The X-Men universe is filled with rich, queer characters, and it’s way past time the biggest LGBT allegory in comics actually featured some of them on the big screen.
7. The Jason Bourne Saga
The creative minds behind these films already started to explore new ways to expand the Bourne universe with 2012’s The Bourne Legacy – which featured original character Aaron Cross (played by Jeremy Renner) rather than Jason Bourne. Introducing a gay or lesbian protagonist at the center of a future Bourne installment would be a bold (and welcome) first for a popular spy thriller franchise.
8. The Marvel Cinematic Universe
The fact #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend recently began trending on Twitter should make it glaringly obvious to Marvel Studio execs that fans are tired of perceived subtext (come on, Cap is totally in love with Bucky) and are ready for the real deal. It’s time for Marvel to give us an LGBT Avenger (or two) who can hold their own alongside the world’s greatest superheroes.
9. The DC Cinematic Universe
While the interconnected big-screen adventures of DC Comics’ iconic characters have only just begun, fans have hope this franchise will embrace LGBT characters where it’s Marvelous competition has failed. With the bisexual Harley Quinn appearing in this summer’s Suicide Squad there’s an excellent opportunity to at least recognize heterosexuals aren’t the only people who exist in this fantastic universe. It’s a theme that could be continued in next year’s Wonder Woman feature film (which could easily acknowledge there is bound to be some same-sex romance happening on an island full of Amazons), before finally featuring an LGBT hero (or villain) among the cast of characters slated to appear in the Justice League films.
Brian
Male homosexual desire is feared by Hollywood and by liberals. It runs counter to the Holywood business model. It scares women and the men who have sex with women.
Therefore you will never ever see male homosexual desire in movies financed by the mainstream Hollywood studios. Just not gonna happen.
The Hollywood business model sees male homosexual desire as a movie-killer and career-killer.
misterhollywood
First, what a fun and cute post. Second, I do think a few of these could totally have a boyfriend injected into the plot. This is particularly true for Captain America. It’s not going to hurt the film franchise as long as they don’t over do it.
Paco
I wonder how many would be begging for Captain America to have a boyfriend if the actor that played him wasn’t attractive and the subject of many wanking fantasies.
Star Trek is definitely over due for a gay main character or even the main character.
heavylifter
@Paco:
Everyone loves a tall, blond, blued straight stud – its evolution and genetics.
Making Captain America gay would totally ruin the character.
Captain America moisturizing, sing along to “The Sound Of Music”? That would be cultural vandalism.
Violent Rainbow
I’m gay and I’m not demanding that there be a gay character in the main cast of every movie, it’s just pissing everyone else off and making them see us as whiny demanding bytches and turning them against us just like feminists have turned the world against them.
KevinG
@Brian: Feares by liberals? You make it sound like you think conservatives are so open-minded on the subject.
Daniel-Reader
It’s more pragmatic. Hollywood studio films are few and far between relatively speaking – 6 to 8 productions per year per major studio. They are produced for a global marketplace. Asian markets, for instance, are subject to very strict film censorship boards by very corrupt governments. These boards exclude films with LGBT characters positively portrayed.
DCguy
@heavylifter:
Wow, take your self hate and baggage to a therapist.
Caleb in SC
@heavylifter: “Cultural vandalism.” I love that expression and will try to use it (appropriately) at the next available opportunity. @DCguy: Get over yourself. Heavy lifter was just expressing the viewpoint of the dominant heater culture. Just because someone expresses a differing point of view does not mean that they are self-loathing or need therapy. Grow up, Felicia.
Black Pegasus
I’m a huge Star Trek geek, and while it would be great to see a gay storyline I fear it would be done poorly. I don’t want some contrived story arcs that are both patronizing and forced. The late Gene Roddenberry (Star Trek created) was said to include a gay character in the Star Trek : The Next Generation TV series, but he died before the show was developed and it fell to other executives along with his vision.
DCguy
@Caleb in SC: stated: ” Get over yourself. Heavy lifter was just expressing the viewpoint of the dominant heater culture. Just because someone expresses a differing point of view does not mean that they are self-loathing or need therapy. Grow up, Felicia.”
___________
Sweetie, having viewpoint of the dominant hetro culture as regards LGBTs is the very definition of self hate. So yes, self loathing, yes, baggage. Assuming that a gay Captain America would be flouncing around lip syncing to “Call Me Maybe” in front of the mirror while wearing a moisturizing mask is absolutely self hating.
You should be asking yourself why you think that is ok.
rand503
@Brian: But conservatives of all stripes just love the gays? What planet are you on?
blissed_out_cossack
You kind of missed a point with James Bond caption – 2 movies back in a scene with Daniel Craig & Javier Bardem doing a sexual ‘tango’ James Bond rejected the baddies assumption that he hadn’t done some man-on-man action…