Will Brie Larson Help Usher Queer Representation in the MCU?

With Avengers: Endgame releasing in theaters worldwide, one thing is for sure, there still isn’t an out queer character in the MCU, which began way back in 2008 and includes more than 20 films. Maybe things will change for the better soon? With how Brie Larson talked about this topic, I do have hope.

This post includes minor Avengers: Endgame spoilers. You have been warned.

The fact MCU continues to use certain canonically queer characters without stating their sexuality onscreen is frustrating. The franchise could have done so much with Loki if the writers were interested in pushing the queer representation needle in the superhero genre. Sigh!

Anyway, I think two actresses who have what it takes to encourage Kevin Feige and the MCU in such a direction are Brie Larson and Tessa Thompson. I remember Thompson being disappointed about a scene being cut from Thor: Ragnarok which would have touched on Valkyrie’s bisexuality. Larson is also quite vocal about the things she stands for, including queer representation.

In a recent interview, when talking about the lack (or near nonexistence) of LGBTQ superhero representation onscreen, Larson replied, “That breaks my heart to hear that, because there’s no reason.”

She added, “I don’t understand how you could think that a certain type of person isn’t allowed to be a superhero. So to me, it’s like, we gotta move faster. But I’m always wanting to move faster with this stuff.”

Larson shared she’s committed to empowering others. “It wasn’t enough for me to just look strong on a poster; it needed to extend further than that. I feel like I can’t at the end of the day go to sleep at night if I didn’t do everything that I possibly could.”

She has also been interacting with Thompson on social media over Captain Marvel/Valkyrie fan art. I did write an article about how such interactions could come across as queerbaiting. However, after watching Avengers: Endgame (our review) I think there is something cooking.

I could be wrong, but I think the stylistic choices made for Carol Danvers in the latest MCU entry continue to lay the groundwork for how she isn’t straight. Did you look at the haircut she was rocking during the finale? The suit she wore to the funeral?

These might come across as stereotypes, but considering we are talking about Hollywood and thus a visual medium, such stylistic choices make sense when it comes to ensuring a character doesn’t appear completely straight.

And coming back to how Larson and Thompson have interacted online over Carol/Valkyrie fan art, I think those two might be working on urging the House of Mouse to enter the queer route with Captain Marvel.

While all of this is speculation at this point, there has been coverage about the MCU looking to introduce openly queer characters. According to certain sources, The Eternals is interested in casting a gay Asian lead.

With Disney having acquired FOX and in turn the Deadpool film franchise, which features openly queer characters, I think it is high time for the MCU to allow certain fictional beings to come out of the closet.

Feel free to share your thoughts with us.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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