Eternals: Marvel’s Long-Awaited Inclusion of the LGBTQ+ Community

 

“A  race of immortal beings with superhuman powers who have secretly lived on Earth for thousands of years, reunite to battle the evil Deviants.” Eternals, Marvel’s upcoming project, is set to hit theatres on November 5th, 2021. Although this film will have many decorated actors and actresses, an oscar-winning director, and even the guest appearance of Harry Styles, the film represents something much more impactful to today’s society: the representation of the LGBTQ+ community.

 

Hanz Sleiman will play Ben, the husband of one of the main superheroes Phastos. Sleiman, who came out as gay in 2017, believes he is ready to play this role and bring it into the spotlight. “Beyond a dream come true, it’s life-saving,” the actor told Variety. “I wish I had that when I was a kid to see this. My god. I wish! Can you imagine how many lives this is going to be saving — kids, young queer folk, who are being bullied, committing suicide, and not seeing themselves being represented? And now they get to see this — it’s above and beyond.” The character Phastos is a 7000-year-old alien who returns to Earth to “help guide a human civilization through his powers of invention”. Director Chloe Zhao, who has already broken barriers of her own being the first Asian woman to be the best director at the Oscars, was interested in exploring this plot further. “What’s important is to show that it isn’t about a message we’re trying to put out,” Zhao said. “I think finding authenticity in moments like that is crucial for me, so it doesn’t feel forced, so you could actually relate to them. That’s the most important thing. It’s not just about being the first. It’s about to do you actually feel for them, whether you’re gay or straight.” Zhao believes that by naturally including this plotline in the script, people will genuinely appreciate the relationship between Ben and Phastos.

 

Looking back on other Marvel projects, there have been introductions to LGBTQ+ characters, however, this is on the comic-book level. Northstar was one of the first openly gay superheroes in American comics, and he was also the first Marvel character to come out on panel in 1992. Children of characters have furthered their plotline within the comics, and this is largely where new storylines tend to develop. Hulkling, the son of Hulk, and Wiccan, the son of Wanda Maximoff, meet in several comic issues and begin dating. According to The Last Annihilation: Wiccan and Hulkling #1, the heroes first met when they attended the same high school and began to bond over their shared love of comics, ScreenRant reported. The issue also showed Teddy and Billy taking on a team of bullies and sharing a kiss afterward. Looking ahead, America Chavez is set to appear in future Disney+ projects as Miss America. In the comics, Chavez is Marvel’s first Latin-American LGBTQ+ character. The question is then posed, why have characters in these comics not found themselves on screen more often?

 

“This is not how superheroes should be portrayed”. This was a common criticism of the upcoming film, Eternals, and poses a reason why these characters have been unfairly placed in the shadows for so long. On Variety’s The Take, Kristen Stewart was talking with host Clayton Davis about the film and gay representation in movies in general. “If you’re happier & more comfortable looking in the rearview mirror, that is where we’ll leave you. I don’t know much about the storyline in this one, but I’m glad there’s gay people in it” Stewart’s viewpoint towards the critiquing public is one which is common among all cast and crew of Eternals.

In order to represent more of the LGBTQ+ community on the screen, not only in Marvel projects, it is important to make them feel like they belong in the industry. ‘We want you exactly the way you are,’ is unlike anything that I’ve ever felt. It just triggered me to be an 11-year-old kid who is watching these superhero movies, and not ever seeing anyone like me reflected. And how I would take these posters and put them in my locker, and just hope that one day there will be somebody representing me, in the way you know that I am. And I truly believe that that moment started when I sat down with Chloé. It’s unlike any feeling I’ve ever experienced.” This statement by Sleiman is impactful and shows just how important inclusion is on the screen, and behind it.