‘Thor: Love and Thunder’: Taika Waititi and Tessa Thompson ‘Would’ve Liked to Go Further’ With the LGBTQ Representation in the Film
Marvel‘s Thor: Love and Thunder is one of the most anticipated films of 2022. Thor is the first character to get a fourth solo movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and since Taika Waititi is directing it, it’s bound to be wildly entertaining. Thor: Love and Thunder should also serve as a turning point in the MCU as it will partly focus on the sexuality of Valkyrie, played by Tessa Thompson.
Valkyrie is the first LGBTQ superhero in an MCU movie
When Valkyrie first appeared in the MCU in Thor: Ragnarok, directed by Taika Waititi, fans didn’t know if her character was bisexual like in the comic books. However, at a panel for Marvel Studios during Comic-Con in 2019, Thompson confirmed that Valkyrie is bisexual.
Thompson reprised her role in Avengers: Endgame. And at the end of the film, Thor officially appointed her the ruler of New Asgard. And the actor teased during the panel that since Valkyrie is now a king, she needs to find her queen.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, Tessa Thompson, and Taika Waititi have all said that Thor: Love and Thunder will explore Valkyrie’s sexuality. So fans can likely look forward to a love story for the Asgardian warrior.
Tessa Thompson revealed that she and Taika Waititi wanted to include more LGBTQ representation in ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’
During an interview with TheWrap, Tessa Thompson talked about how Valkyrie was the first LGBTQ character to appear in an MCU movie.
“It’s totally exciting,” the actor said. “We talk so much about representation. And, obviously, in terms of the LGBTQIA community, there’s still so much work to be done. But if you look at the comics in the canon, there are so many queer characters! It’s hard because Taika and I would’ve even liked to go further. But in the context of the movies, there’s only so much we can do. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of time invested in love stories in Marvel movies in general.”
Thompson added, “I think that will be a little different on the new Thor, which is exciting. And getting to play a character that historically is not written for somebody that looks like me, all of that felt exciting.”
Hopefully, Marvel will order a fifth Thor film, and Taika Waititi and Tessa Thompson can further explore LGBTQ characters.
Everything we know about Taika Waititi’s ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’
Thor: Love and Thunder stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster/Thor, Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher, Jaimie Alexander as Lady Sif, and Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster. Plus, the Guardians will appear in the film. Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Dave Bautista as Drax, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, and Vin Diesel as Groot reprise their roles.
As for behind the scenes, Taika Waititi directed Thor: Love and Thunder, and Waititi and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson wrote the script. And it will serve as the sixth film in Phase Four of the MCU.
Fans do not know a lot about the movie’s plot. However, Marvel confirmed that Jane Foster would take on the mantle of Thor while being treated for cancer. Portman had a small cameo in Avengers: Endgame, but she was last seen as a main character in Thor: The Dark World. And Thor revealed in Thor: Ragnarok that he and Jane had broken up.
Thor: Love and Thunder premieres in theaters on July 8, 2022.
