Marvel’s ‘Eternals‘ Will Feature First Openly Gay Couple With A Family in the MCU. Though other characters and heroes, such as Valkyrie from Thor: Ragnarok, have been confirmed as gay off-screen so far by Marvel Studios, Marvel will soon feature the first openly gay character on-screen who will be married and have already started a family. The character Phastos, as played by Brian Tyree Henry, will be the first openly gay superhero to be featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Actor Haaz Sleiman shared the news with LOGO’s NewNowNext.“I just shot a Marvel film with the first openly gay superhero, Eternals. I’m married to the gay superhero Phastos, played by Atlanta’s Brian Tyree Henry, and we represent a gay family and have a child.”
Sleiman was asked if the film will feature an intimate moment between Phastos and his husband, confirming that the couple shares an on screen kiss in the film. “Oh, yeah, absolutely, and it’s a beautiful, very moving kiss. Everyone cried on set,” Sleiman explained. “For me it’s very important to show how loving and beautiful a queer family can be. Brian Tyree Henry is such a tremendous actor and brought so much beauty into this part, and at one point I saw a child in his eyes, and I think it’s important for the world to be reminded that we in the queer community were all children at one point. We forget that because we’re always depicted as sexual or rebellious. We forget to connect on that human part.”
Marvel Studios President and Chief Creative Officer, Kevin Feige, has previously stated the success of other diversity driven films such as Black Panther and Captain Marvel have helped boost the notion that other stories featuring unique storylines and characteristics are worth exploring in the MCU and hopes to continue doing so in the future.
“Every time we do a movie, we hope it’s going to succeed so that we can make another movie. That’s always the idea,” Feige said at CCXP last year. “And with those two films in particular, Black Panther and Captain Marvel, we wanted to keep showcasing heroes from the comics that represent the world that goes to see our movies. So our intention was always to continue to do that. What’s exciting is that both those movies were such big hits that it squashed any sort of question otherwise, and I hope — and I think — it inspired other companies around the world to do the same thing and tell those different types of stories.”
Eternals will also be the first film in the MCU to feature an official deaf superhero, Makkari, played by Lauren Ridloof (The Walking Dead). We can’t wait to see what other ‘firsts’ are in store for the studio. Marvel’s Eternals is set to premiere in theaters November 6, 2020. Be sure to check back here at Chip and Co. for all things Marvel!
Featured Photo Credit: MovieWeb/Marvel Studios
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