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Thor: Ragnarok Cut Valkyrie's Bisexual Scene from the Film
The moment was cut because it "distracted from the scene's vital exposition."
The Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn't exactly been the most LGBT-friendly. The 17-film franchise has yet to feature a non-heterosexual character, and fans are beginning to take notice.
Not one, but two, of the characters in Marvel's latest film, Thor: Ragnarok, are in fact LGBT in the comic books. A lot of pressure has been placed on the upcoming film to fill this void, but you probably shouldn't get your hopes up. Marvel has seemingly decided to edit out all hints of these queer identities.
Tessa Thompson has confirmed this in a recent interview with Rolling Stone. After accepting the role of Valkyrie, she learned that the superhero was bisexual in the comics and wanted to make sure the character was authentically represented in the film. She took it upon herself to ask director Taika Waititi to include a moment confirming her bisexual identity in Thor: Ragnarok.
Waititi honored Thompson's wishes, and a scene was shot showing a woman walking out of Valkyrie's bedroom. Waititi kept the scene in the movie for "as long as he could" but it was eventually cut from the final version of the film "because it distracted from the scene's vital exposition."
"There were things that we talked about that we allowed to exist in the characterization, but maybe not be explicit in the film," Thompson explained to Rolling Stone.
There's another moment in Thor Ragnarok where Valkyrie's warrior clan is murdered, and Thompson acted on her own bisexual characterization. "There's a great shot of me falling back from one of my sisters who's just been slain. In my mind, that was my lover."
Thompson's intent is admirable, but it's ultimately up to Marvel to give LGBT fans the representation they crave, and it looks like they've failed us once again. There are rumors that Thompson may reprise her role of Valkyrie in 2018's Avengers: Infinity War, so there's still a chance for Valkyrie to be the first queer Marvel character on the big screen.
Only time will tell.
Thor Ragnarok premieres nationwide on November 3, 2017.
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
