During a recent interview, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige seemed to confirm that an upcoming superhero movie would feature a trans character. The news instantly made the rounds, marking an exciting development in the MCU, which has been slow to include LGBTQ characters in its features. However, according to new reports, it appears Feige may have misspoken. So, what’s the truth?
Feige made the initial remarks while speaking as a guest lecturer for the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles in late December. During the audience Q&A segment, one audience member asked Feige the following: “Are there any current plans on bringing more LGBT+ characters into the MCU—specifically the ‘T,’ trans characters?”
“Yes, absolutely, yes,” Feige replied. “And very soon. In a movie that we’re shooting right now. Yes.”
It seemed clear enough, considering the original question. However, Variety reports that, according to two sources close to Marvel Studios, Feige didn’t mean to imply that a trans character would be arriving to the MCU “very soon”; rather, he meant more broadly that there would be more LGBT+ characters, not specifically a trans character. Reps for Marvel have not yet responded to Vanity Fair’s request for comment.
It’s already been announced that Marvel’s Eternals, directed by Chloé Zhao, will feature the first major, openly gay character, though it’s not yet clear who will be playing him.
“He’s married, he’s got a family, and that is just part of who he is,” Feige told Good Morning America about the superhero character back in August.
The Eternals cast includes Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani, Gemma Chan, Kit Harington, Barry Keoghan, and Brian Tyree Henry. It also includes Lauren Ridloff, who will play the first deaf superhero in the MCU. Per Variety, Eternals is the only Marvel project in production at the time of his appearance, so Feige had to have been referring to that particular film.
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