'The world is ready': Top Marvel executive says it's time for a gay superhero amid rumors that the franchise will have an LBGTQ lead for its upcoming 'Eternals' film
- Marvel’s Victoria Alonso said 'the world is ready' for an openly gay superhero
- The brand's production chief made the statement at the premiere of 'Captain Marvel' in Los Angeles on March 4 while discussing diversity in the MCU
- Alonso would not confirm a rumor reported by ThatHashtagShow that the company was actively seeking to cast the character with an openly gay actor
- Filming on 'The Eternals' is scheduled to begin in September in the United Kingdom and continue through January, with no premiere date set
A top Marvel executive says 'the world is ready' for a gay lead superhero in a feature film.
Production chief Victoria Alonso said the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is ready to create an LBGTQ character, but stopped short of confirming when and in what film that might be, in an interview with Variety on March 6.
The questions arose after ThatHashtagShow.com reported on March 1 that Marvel was actively seeking a gay lead for its upcoming 'The Eternals' film.
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Marvel's production chief Victoria Alonso (left) has said 'the world is ready' for a gay lead superhero in a feature film at the March 4 Los Angeles premiere of 'Captain Marvel,' which features a female lead superhero (played by Brie Larson, at right) for the first time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
'We are going to cast the best "Eternals" cast that we can and when we’re ready to announce it we promise you we will,' Alonso said at the 'Captain Marvel' premiere, which features a female lead superhero (played by Brie Larson) for the first time in the MCU.
Alonso then emphasized how committed Marvel is to diversity.
'Why wouldn’t we be?' Alonso said, speaking about Marvel's commitment to diversity.
'I’m so passionate about this I’ve got to tell you. Our entire success is based on people that are incredibly different.'
She added: 'Why would we only want to be recognized by only one type of person? Our audience is global, is diverse, is inclusive.
'If we don’t do it that way for them, we will fail. If we don’t put pedal to the metal on the diversity and the inclusivity, we will not have continued success. Our determination is to have that for all of the people out there watching our movies.'
The issue arose after ThatHashtagShow.com reported on March 1 that Marvel was actively seeking a gay lead for its upcoming 'The Eternals' film. (Left to right) President of Marvel Studios/Producer Kevin Feige, and Executive Producers Jonathan Schwartz, Victoria Alonso and Louis D'Esposito attend the Los Angeles World Premiere of Marvel Studios' 'Captain Marvel' at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 4
The question came from a report from ThatHashtagShow.com that the studio was looking for an actor of any ethnicity between the ages of 30-49 who 'physically looks like a superhero' and who is preferably openly gay to play the first known homosexual character in an MCU film.
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The report said the studio was going to great lengths to keep the identity of the character a secret.
Other lead characters in the film are expected to be 'Sersi,' 'Ikaris' and 'Piper.'
'Eros' who is also called 'Starfox,' and is the brother of 'Thanos,' is also believed to be premiering in the movie, according to Newsweek.
Filming on 'The Eternals' is scheduled to begin in September in the United Kingdom and continue through January, with no premiere date set at this time.
Alsono stopped short of confirming whether 'The Eternals' will be the film that brings an openly gay superhero to a lead role. Filming on 'The Eternals' is scheduled to begin in September in the United Kingdom and continue through January, with no premiere date set at this time. The character of Ikaris is shown battling with the Hulk on the cover of Eternals #15
