Marvel boss responds to backlash over gay Avengers: Endgame character
Hawkeye, War Machine, Iron Man, Captain America, Nebula, Rocket, Ant-Man and Black Widow in Avengers: Endgame (Marvel Studios)
Marvel president Kevin Feige has addressed backlash from LGBT+ fans over the introduction of their first openly gay character in Avengers: Endgame.
The character—who was simply credited as Grieving Man and was played by the film’s co-director Joe Russo—caused controversy among some LGBT+ fans who criticised the studio for the quick, throwaway moment.
The character appears in a grief support group and mentions to Chris Evans’ character Steve Rogers that he is dating a man.
Grieving Man was intended to be ‘a matter of life and a matter of truth’
Speaking to io9, Feige said that Grieving Man was never intended as the first “focused” LGBT+ character in the MCU.
“That was just meant to be a matter of fact and a matter of life and a matter of truth,” Feige said.
“I liked it that our hero, Steve Rogers, doesn’t blink an eye at that fact. It is just truth and is heartbreaking for his loss and for the life he’s trying to put back together. It was never meant to be looked at as our first hero.
“It guess it’s the first reference so it does, of course, get a lot of attention.”
“It is just truth and is heartbreaking for his loss and for the life he’s trying to put back together. It was never meant to be looked at as our first hero.”
– Marvel president Kevin Feige
Feige also said that there will be “much more prominent LGBT heroes in the future.”
Marvel bosses have promised LGBT+ superheroes in the future
Marvel bosses have been hinting for several years at the introduction of LGBT+ characters and superheroes in the future.
Speaking in March, Feige said the idea of an LGBT+ superhero was “percolating.”
Studio executives have promised more diverse characters in the Marvel Cinemtic Universe as the Avengers saga came to an end. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty for Disney)
He made the comments after reports emerged suggesting that Marvel is recruiting an openly gay man to play the lead role in an upcoming film called The Eternals.
Meanwhile, Marvel executive Victoria Alonso has repeatedly reaffirmed her commitment to seeing an LGBT+ superhero in a future film.
Avengers: Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo told Sirius XM in May that Marvel will announce the introduction of a new gay character in the near future.
