Kevin Feige: Eternal's Gay Hero Is Just The Start Of MCU Representation

Kevin Feige, president of Marvel, has said that the upcoming debut of the franchise's first gay superhero in Eternals is just the start of equal representation in the MCU. Feige, who has served as executive producer on all MCU projects since Iron Man in 2008, has overseen and coordinated each of the beloved interconnected stories and characters. As the figurehead atop Marvel Studios, Feige has the ultimate say on which characters are introduced, which plot arcs will be seeded over which movie and TV projects, and which heroes will join forces.

The upcoming 26th film in the MCU, Eternals, focuses on a group of ancient superhuman beings who have watched over humanity throughout history. The Eternals are a family-like group with each member having different super-powered abilities. The Eternal hero Phastos, played by This Is Us' Brian Tyree Henry, is set to be the first openly gay Marvel hero. Phastos, who is the group's technology and weapons expert, was shown in a previous Eternals trailer as a happily married man with a husband and young son, becoming the first named LGBTQ+ character in the franchise.

Now, Feige has said that the inclusion of Marvel's first gay hero marks the beginning of improved representation. In a red carpet interview with Variety at the premiere of Eternals, Feige talked about how the comics have had "gay heroes before," but the introduction of Phastos in Eternals is, in his words, “just the start” for the MCU. Feige also says the milestone is “more than past time in the movies,” implying it could be a representation milestone the studio has been working on making a reality for a long time.

Marvel Comics is known for its diverse array of characters, all of different backgrounds, races, genders and species. The MCU has often been criticised by LGBTQ+ audiences for its lack of equal representation, especially considering the longevity of the franchise. Previously, Feige defended the inclusion of an openly gay character in Avengers: Endgame, which fans criticized as being ultimately inconsequential. The character was played by co-director Joe Russo in what only amounted to a brief cameo with just seconds of screen time. While a step in the right direction, the very brief appearance of a gay character was still a disappointment to many. In Eternals, Marvel will remedy this, introducing a central superhero who is openly gay.

Representation in the MCU series is certainly expanding in Phase 4. Earlier this year, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings saw the entry of Marvel's first Asian superhero lead with Simu Liu, and Eternals will also introduce the first deaf superhero, Makkari, played by The Walking Dead's Lauren Ridloff. However, when it comes to representation of sexuality, Disney's presence in more conservative markets, such as China, has often led to complications regarding censorship. Scenes depicting so-called “taboo” material are edited out for some international audiences in more traditionalist societies. This has led to many films neglecting LGBTQ+ representation or, alternatively, allowing it to be easily cut from the finished picture for distribution. Marvel is taking a different approach in Eternals by introducing a primary gay character, rather than a background role. This marks an encouraging step forward for the studio, and if Kevin Feige is to believed, it won’t be the end of better representation on the big screen.

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Source: Variety