“I think that would be a very progressive way to kind of create a new character.”
Tom Holland has continued to express support for a gay version of Spider-Man.
The British actor – who has played the web-slinger in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2016 – replied to fan comments in a video for GQ, where one asked: “Didn’t Tom Holland say he wanted Spider-Man to be gay?”
Tom responded: “The question asked was, ‘Do you think there should be a gay Spider-Man?’ I think that would be a very progressive way to kind of create a new character. So, yeah, I think there should be one day.”
He then added: “I hope that I get to share the screen with that person.”
Back in July, Tom called for more diversity in the Marvel franchise. “I can’t talk about the future of the character because honestly I don’t know and it’s out of my hands,” he said.
“But 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. The world isn’t as simple as a straight white guy.”
He continued: “It doesn’t end there, and these films need to represent more than one type of person.”
Kevin Feige – President of Marvel Studios – recently announced that The Eternals, which will star Gemma Chan, Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden and Kit Harrington, will include a gay character who is “married and got a family”.
The third sequel to Thor, titled Love and Thunder, will see the return of Tessa Thompson’s fan-favourite character Valkyrie, the new King of Asgard, and the film will chronicle her search for a queen.
It was also reported earlier this month that Marvel are seeking a transgender actress for a role in the franchise. A casting call has been released for a character called Jessica, a role for “a transwoman actress of any ethnicity in her 20s to 30s”.
It’s part of a new initiative by Marvel to become more diverse, especially after the acclaim and box office success of films such as Black Panther and Captain Marvel, both of which grossed over one billion dollars.
Victoria Alonso – the studio’s executive vice-president – said she hoped Marvel would set the standard with diversity.
“We’re just determined to have it be how we do it,” she told Vulture. “And if we do it, maybe somebody else will do it. I encourage every studio, every indie production company, every filmmaker out there to make an effort.”
And Sarah Halley Finn, the casting director for every Marvel film since Iron Man, said: “You’re gonna see even more new faces — and faces from all different background, all ages, all ethnicities, LGBTQ, people who are differently abled.
“It’s a priority to have authenticity, to increase representation, to give greater representation to actors who have not traditionally been represented in mainstream movies on the big screen.”
Related: Kristen Stewart ‘told to hide sexuality to get a Marvel movie role’.
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