As we wait for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to finally introduce LGBTQ heroes as promised, its actors continue to call for such inclusion to be expedited.
Tom Holland was asked by The Sunday Times’ Culture magazine whether he thought there could one day be a gay iteration of Spider-Man.
“Yeah, of course,” he said.
“The world isn’t as simple as a straight white guy. It doesn’t end there, and these films need to represent more than one type of person.”
Holland is the third actor to play Spider-Man in a modern live action film, and at least the second who has publicly talked about how Spider-Man could be LGBTQ.
Andrew Garfield, who played the web-slinging hero in two films prior to Holland, gave an interview in 2013 in which he claimed he and director Marc Webb were talking about having Peter Parker explore bisexuality. He even suggested Michael B. Jordan to play the male version of Parker’s iconic love interest, MJ (usually Mary Jane Watson).
Stan Lee publicly shot down the idea, calling Garfield’s comments “out of left field,” and saying that “one sex at a time ought to be enough for anybody.”
When Sony sold the rights to Marvel to use Spider-Man on the big screen, there were actual stipulations that Peter Parker be heterosexual and white — bizarre demands that are clearly intended to stick to a status quo and stifle creativity and inclusivity.
It’s unclear what all would have to change for Marvel to be able to make Spider-Man anything but a straight white guy (in live-action, anyway), and it seems unlikely to happen any time soon.
But Holland did reiterate the company line, reminding us that Marvel does intend to finally, finally begin introducing LGBTQ heroes at some point “soon,” even if Spider-Man probably isn’t one of them.
“I do know a lot about the future of Marvel, and they are going to be representing lots of different people in the next few years,” he said.
We’ll believe it when it happens, Tom! But at least the next Spider-Man film will feature the MCU's first openly trans actor. It's a start.
