Victoria Alonso, the producer of Eternals, has responded to criticism of the film’s LBGTQ depiction; with a passionate talk on the need of being inclusive and diverse.
The Eternals, immortal and superpowered humans that have quietly lived on Earth for aeons to combat the Deviants, premiered on November 5, 2021. They are compelled to gather and rise once more to fight the Deviants as they reappear. Angelina Jolie, Kumail Nanjiani, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Kit Harington, Gemma Chan; and Brian Tyree Henry starred in the picture; which was helmed by award-winning writer and director Chloé Zhao.
The film has garnered mixed reviews and low rotten tomatoes score for a Marvel picture. Part of the reason for the varied reviews is because Eternals is an extremely bold film. Eternals is one of the most diverse MCU films yet; featuring a deaf superhero and an openly gay character for the first time.
One of The Eternals, Phastos, is an openly gay guy who is shown kissing his husband, Ben Stoss; which has sparked some controversy about the LGBTQ depiction. Kevin Feige has revealed that Eternal’s homosexual superhero is just the beginning of the MCU’s representation. While some have applauded the MCU’s progress, others have criticized the LGBTQ presence.
According to Variety, Alonso responded to the LGBTQ criticism with an emotional speech at the Outfest Legacy Awards. To begin, Alonso stated that critics are common and that it is acceptable to be one. She did, however, wish to emphasize to such critics that diversity and representation aren’t about a political objective or a “game.”
“Diversity And Inclusion Is Not A Political Game For Us”
Rather, having a worldwide audience entails a very serious and real responsibility. With such a large audience, it is critical that individuals from all around the world see themselves represented. Take a look at what she has to say:
We have tried to stir it up and sometimes the critics are not with us. That’s OK. That’s OK. We thank you for being a critic. We thank you for writing about us. And the fans will decide. Diversity and inclusion is not a political game for us. It is 100 percent a responsibility because you don’t get to have the global success that we have given the Walt Disney Company without the support of people around the world of every kind of human there is.
To those who continue to criticize representation, Alonso’s remark is a very elegant and succinct rebuttal. When a film contains representation and diversity, critics frequently assert that it is political in character. The truth is that Hollywood is now realizing that diversity and representation are both a serious obligation and a must for success.
Every person desires to see themselves on the big screen and to know that their ethnicity; history, and way of life are being honoured. Critics of Marvel’s Eternals have a right to their opinions; but they must also acknowledge that diversity and representation will continue to improve in the future.
Overall, Eternals was a risky picture that gave the MCU a lot of firsts. The picture was also unique in many other ways, with Zhao and the majority of the cast having no prior experience with superhero films. Their distinct point of view is evident in the casting selections, historical settings, and plot of the film.
It’s tough to comprehend why the inclusion of a gay superhero would spark such a heated debate in such a unique and significant film. The connection was only one facet of a character’s identity, not a key or dominating aspect of the plot.
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