It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...an openly gay person? News broke Monday that Marvel is actively looking to cast an LGBTQ+ actor as a superhero in 2020's The Eternals, and while some of us thought to ourselves, "Rude, Captain America and Bucky are right there," the rest were excited to see the comics giant finally expanding representation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for queers the way they have for women and people of color (with Captain Marvel and Black Panther). The role in question calls for "an actor, 30-49, who 'physically looks like a superhero'" but that's just a rough guideline.
Marvel casting agents, here are a few queer actors whose agents you should be getting in touch with immediately. (And screw your casting credentials!)
Dan Levy
When the news hit Twitter that Marvel was searching for a queer actor for their next big superhero property, Dan Levy bravely volunteered as tribute. Marvel loves to cast comic actors as heroes (as evidenced by Chris Pratt, the worst Chris), and Levy has become something of a twunk recently. Alexis voice: I see your arms in those sweaters, David. We're all for it.
Janelle Monáe
Monae's music is so clearly inspired by science fiction -- Metropolis, The ArchAndroid -- that casting her as a superhero is a no brainer. The pansexual icon is also already a celebrated actress with roles in Hidden Figures and Moonlight, so she's got the chops needed to join the Marvel pantheon. (Plus, her Thom Browne ensembles are already superhero-worthy.)
Samira WIley
Wiley showed her humor and quiet, unshakable strength on Orange Is the New Black and The Handmaid's Tale -- now it's time for her to get jacked and kick some ass.
Darren Young
This former WWE fighter is the obvious inheritor of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's career path from wrestler to action star. He's hot, he's gay, he does his own stunts -- get his agent on the phone!
Vincent Rodriguez III
My Crazy Ex Girlfriendstar Rodriguez III is funny, can sing, and is low-key jacked. We absolutely need a Marvel movie with a musical number (gay rights), and Rodriguez III has the pipes to pull it off.
Lizzo
Not all heroes wear capes, but Lizzo in a cape? I would like to see it. Potential powers include twerking hard enough to cause a minor earthquake, creating sonic blasts, and hypnotizing her enemies with her magical flute.
Wilson Cruz
Most of us remember Cruz as the adorable Rickie from My So Called Life, but in recent years he's dabbled in sci-fi as a regular on Star Trek: Discovery. He's also, as evidenced by his Instagram, dabbled in some serious weight lifting (with cardio for good measure), so his training period would likely be pretty abrupt.
Monet X Change
A queer superhero film wouldn't be complete without a Drag Race cameo, and who better than one of the winners of All Stars 4? Monet served Black Panther realness in the final performance that won her the crown, perhaps she could join Wakanda's elite group of warriors, the Dora Milaje.
Dominique Jackson
Pose's Mother of the House of Abundance was meant to be a deliciously wicked, high-femme villain in the vein of Cate Blanchett in Thor: Ragnarok. Imagine her strutting down a catwalk littered with the bodies of her enemies, ready to destroy some boring, white, cishetero "hero" -- talk about slaying.
Ben Whishaw
The Mary Poppins star has already played a superhero sidekick as James Bond's Q, so now could be the time for him to step into the leading role. (Let's just lose the Poppins mustache.)
