Kevin Feige says that the Marvel Cinematic Universe will soon introduce its first transgender superhero character.
The Marvel boss was asked by a fan whether the MCU films would feature more LGBT characters. “Specifically the T, trans characters,” Feige said on a panel discussion with the New York Film Academy in October but posted online on Saturday: “Yes, absolutely. Yes.”
“And very soon. In a movie that we’re shooting right now,” he added.
Feige has previously confirmed that the upcoming film “Eternals,” starring Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Kit Harington, Selma Hayek, Gemma Chan, Barry Keoghan and Brian Tyree-Henry, would feature its first gay character. And Simu Liu will star in a 2021 film, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” as the franchise’s first Asian superhero.
In 2019’s “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” the MCU featured its first openly transgender actor in a small part, actor Zach Barack, though his character’s gender identity is not discussed in the brief role.
Also upcoming on Marvel’s slate for 2021 is “Thor: Love and Thunder,” and the fan site Geeks Worldwide speculated that the trans character could be an existing transgender character from the comic books named Sera, a wingless Angel who eventually comes into contact with Thor’s long-lost half sister. Valkyrie, who is played by Tessa Thompson in the MCU films, is bisexual in the comic books, but her sexuality isn’t clear in the films.
Feige in his panel discussion further expressed the importance of diversity in blockbusters, specifically noting the recent success of “Black Panther” and “Captain Marvel.”
“With those two film in particular… 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,” Feige said. “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 kinds of stories.”
Check out his full interview here.