Eternals’ Kit Harington doesn’t understand why Marvel has been so slow on LGBT+ representation

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Kit Harington has called for more LGBT+ representation in superhero movies.

Harington recently starred in Marvel’s Eternals alongside Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos – the first openly queer superhero in an MCU film.

Phastos’ addition the franchise was eagerly welcomed by LGBT+ fans, and it seems that Marvel is keen to correct its dearth of queer representation, with the recent Loki TV series confirming its titular anti-hero as bisexual and gender-fluid.

Eternals star Harington is among those thrilled by Marvel finally moving with the times. In a chat with Out, he said he was “incredibly proud and happy,” to have joined the MCU as it turns its focus towards inclusion.

He added: “I’ve said before, I don’t know why we haven’t got LGBTQ+ representation in superhero movies and in this one we do, and that’s just so important. I think it is such a moment, and all I can hope is that this is the start of many, many more.”

“Phastos is one of my favourite characters in this, he’s awesome,” he continued. “It actually was a big reason I wanted to be part of this.”

This isn’t the first time that Harington has criticised mainstream superhero movies for a lack of queer representation. During a 2018 appearance for his movie, The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, Harington spoke out about the intersection of masculinity and homosexuality in Hollywood.

“There’s a big problem with masculinity and homosexuality that they can’t somehow go hand in hand,” Harington said. “That we can’t have someone in a Marvel movie who’s gay in real life and plays some superhero. I mean, when is that going to happen?”

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Future Marvel projects are expected to introduce more queer superheroes. Tessa Thompson has confirmed that her character, Valkyrie, will “find her queen” in Thor: Love and War, while the next Black Panther film, Wakanda Forever, is rumoured to include a lesbian romance.