Avengers: Endgame Features Marvel’s First Gay Character

According to fanfiction, most of the the Avengers are getting their cheeks clapped on the regular. But in "reality," no Marvel film has yet featured an actual queer character...until Avengers: Endgame. And no, it's not Captain America finally telling the Winter Soldier how he can put that metal arm to use.

Spoilers for Endgame below, you have been warned!

In the climactic film's first art, the Avengers attempt to steal the Infinity Stones from Thanos only to discover he's destroyed them. Thor takes the titan's head off with his axe Stormbreaker and the remaining heroes scatter. Five years pass, and we find Captain America leading a support group for those who have been left behind following Thanos' population-decimating snap.

One of the members of that support group is an unnamed character played by none other than Endgame co-director Joe Russo. The character shares a story of going on his first date following the snap, nonchalantly explaining that he and his date -- another man -- both cried before the salad came.

Russo told Deadline that he and his brother, co-director Anthony Russo, included the gay character because they understand the importance of representation. "It was important to us as we did four of these films, we wanted a gay character somewhere in them," he explained. "We felt it was important that one of us play him, to ensure the integrity and show it is so important to the filmmakers that one of us is representing that. It is a perfect time, because one of the things that is compelling about the Marvel Universe moving forward is its focus on diversity."

That push toward diversity may continue in Marvel's next phase. Upcoming superhero flick The Eternals is rumored to feature the MCU's first gay superhero. Until then, we'll have to keep reading Tony Stark/Peter Parker porn...which is pretty sad now, considering the end of Endgame...

RELATED | Which Avengers are Having the Most Gay Sex, According to Fanfiction