Marvel Studios’ executive vice president of film production Victoria Alonso has promised more LGBTQ+ representation is coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Phase 4 develops. The new stage of the franchise began in earnest with Marvel Studios’ first independent TV series on Disney+, WandaVisionearlier this year. That was followed by The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and the ongoing Loki series. The film half of the latest phase kicks off with the release of Black Widow on July 9.

Despite the success of the MCU, the representation of LGBTQ+ characters in the franchise has been found to be somewhat lacking by many critics. This has finally begun to change in Loki with Loki’s file in the TVA noting he's genderfluid. This has developed further in Loki through both the presence of Sylvie and in episode 3, “Lamentis,” when Loki revealed he's bisexual. This marks the first time a primary character within the MCU has openly shared they're a part of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Related: Sylvie’s Mother Line Hints At Her True Identity (Not Loki)

Speaking to Variety at the fan premiere for Black Widow, Alonso promised that the studio is committed to further LGBTQ+ representation in its output going forward. The executive acknowledged that doing so “takes time” and that the studio may not always get it right, but will continue trying. You can read Alonso's full statement below: 

It takes time, we have so many stories that we can tell. We will empower those that are [LGBTQ+]. We’re not changing anything. We’re just showing the world who these people are, who these characters are … There’s a lot that we have coming up that I think will be representative of the world of today. We’re not going to nail it in the first movie or the second movie or third movie, or the first show or second show, but we will do our best to consistently try to represent.

Tom Hiddleston as Loki in Loki Episode 3

When asked about the decision to make Loki genderfluid in the recent series, Alonso said: “to be honest with you, it’s not a big deal” arguing that Marvel was simply being faithful to the character. She continued by stating that the studio did "do it because it’s politically correct or incorrect. It is what it is. Don’t forget, we follow our comics. We try to follow them quite to the tee. So in the comics this is who he was.”

Loki being portrayed as genderfluid is nothing new, although acknowledging it with modern terminology is. Within the Marvel Comics, Loki has spent time as a woman for several years and has even impersonated other female characters, including Scarlet Witch. Likewise, looking further back to Norse mythology, as a shapeshifter, Loki often switched between being male and female, despite being generally considered male, and even gave birth to Odin’s eight-legged horse Sleipnir.

Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige has long stated that he wants to diversify the MCU, and Alonso’s comments seem to corroborate this. Moreover, acknowledging that while Marvel may not always get LGBTQ+ representation right at first, admitting that it wants to ensure this becomes an important part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a step in the right direction. Hopefully, films like Eternals and other upcoming Disney+ shows prove that Marvel is committed to keeping its promise and building on the wonderful representation shown in Loki.

More: Why Loki Laughs When He Sees His Infinity War Death

Source: Variety

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