Tessa Thompson’s character Valkyrie in the 2017 film ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ was hailed as the first LGBTQ+ character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, however her bisexuality, was never actually addressed and a scene with a woman leaving her bedroom that would have referenced Valkyrie’s sexuality did not make the final cut.
The comic book hero’s orientation is now set to be explored in the new Thor instalment ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ and Thompson has also hinted at a new romance for the character.
Thompson, who in real life is attracted to both men and women, has championed the characters sexuality and has revealed that it was a major point of discussion with co-writer and director Taika Waititi.
“We talked about it a lot, it was big topic of conversation…because I think rightfully there’s this real want in audiences to see characters be very clearly queer or LGBTQIA inside these spaces. And I think it’s hugely important to have representation…and also as humans I think that we are not defined by our sexuality, and by who we love. And so sometimes I think to hang a narrative completely on that is a way of actually diminishing the humanity of the character. Because you don’t allow them to be anything else.”
Thompson has expressed that she feels good about how things have turned out and hopes Valkyrie is a character fans continue to enjoy and also hopes that fans explore her in ‘all of her humanity’.
“I think rightfully there’s this real want in audiences to see characters be very clearly queer or LGBTQIA+ inside these spaces. And I think it’s hugely important to have representation…also as humans I think that we are not defined by our sexuality, and by who we love. And so sometimes I think to hang a narrative completely on that is a way of actually diminishing the humanity of the character. Because you don’t allow them to be anything else.”
Thor: Love and Thunder’, the fourth instalment in the Marvel Universe Thor Saga, is released in cinemas on 8th July.
