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Tessa Thompson's Queer Superhero Valkyrie Returns to MCU in The Marvels
Is it time for the MCU's first big gay superhero couple?
The Marvels is looking like one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most important movies, and now we know it will have at least one queer character.
The latest MCU film The Marvels has been flying under the radar, as none of the star-studded cast are allowed to promote the film during the still ongoing actors strike. But the more we learn about it, the more interesting it becomes!
In the newest (and final) trailer for the film, big things are teased, including an encroaching alternate universe, Nick Fury announcing “they’re here,” and a graphic that says “Be there for the moment that changes everything.”
One other thing that we saw and loved was the return of Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, a beloved queer character in the MCU who has always had the potential for great queer storylines but just missed actually having them.
In the preview we see her wearing a suit and talking to Captain Marvel. “You can stand tall without standing alone,” Valkyrie tells her friend.
MCU fans have been desperate for any major character to be gay since the beginning of the movies, and have been shipping Captain Marvel and Valkyrie ever since the actors who play the roles started interacting in real life.
Right now, Valkyrie is one of the most prominent LGBTQ+ characters in the MCU. Others include Korg, Ayo, Phastos, Aneka, and Loki.
We cute @TessaThompson_x https://t.co/7358yhTQlA
— Brie Larson (@brielarson) March 18, 2019
Even Larsen and Thompson themselves seem to ship the characters. Back in 2019, Larson shared some fanart of the two characters on Twitter with the caption, “we cute.”
Thompson later talked with the LA Times about the ship.
"It didn't even occur to me, legitimately, that it was necessarily a romantic thing. I don't even know what happens in the canon in terms of those characters or if they ever intersect, but I just love the idea of more women Marvel characters getting to intersect,” she said, adding that now that she’s heard the idea she loves it. “I just think it's so cool and it's time and why not? There're so many compelling female characters inside of the MCU."
While we’re not holding our breaths for Valkyrie and Captain Marvel to actually hook up in the movie, seeing them interact again will at least be nice.
The Marvels also stars Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, and Zawe Ashton. The Marvels releases in theaters nationwide on November 10.
Mey Rude is a journalist and cultural critic who has been covering queer news for a decade. The transgender, Latina lesbian lives in Los Angeles with her fiancée.
Mey Rude is a journalist and cultural critic who has been covering queer news for a decade. The transgender, Latina lesbian lives in Los Angeles with her fiancée.
