Marvel Studios is hard at work on post-production for the next chapter in the Thor franchise: Thor: Love and Thunder. The film series underwent a bit of a creative revamp in 2017's Thor: Ragnarok, which injected a bit more humor, by the hand of director, Taika Waititi. Love and Thunder will reunite most of the cast members from Ragnarok and with Waititi at the helm yet again, fans are likely in for a wild ride.
One of the characters Waititi introduced into the MCU is the fan-favorite Brunnhilde, (mainly referred to as Valkyrie in the films) as portrayed by Tessa Thompson. Valkyrie is an ex-member of an elite Asgardian fighting force who was slaughtered by Hela, the Goddess of Death.
Thompson herself is bisexual, a trait that has seemingly carried over into the MCU. This has never been shown on-screen in any overt fashion, but things look like they may change in the forthcoming Love and Thunder.
Tessa Thompson Discusses Valkyrie's Queerness
Speaking to The Wrap, Thor: Love and Thunder actress Tessa Thompson discussed her character Valkyrie's sexual orientation and how that's representative of the comic books on which the MCU is based:
It's totally exciting. 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.
She also hinted at her MCU hero's relationship status, stating that things might "be a little different" in the upcoming Thor sequel compared to other MCU projects.
Unfortunately, there's not a lot of time invested in love stories in Marvel movies in general. 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.
Thompson's comments come about one week after scooper MyTimeToShineHello claimed that a romantic pairing between Brie Larson's Captain Marvel and Thompson's Valkyrie is in the cards for a future Marvel Studios project.
Could A Romance With Another Hero Be In Store For Valkyrie?
Of course, many fans have been clamoring for more LGBTQ+ representation in the MCU. And thus far, Marvel has taken small steps toward achieving that goal.
Director Joe Russo played a gay man in a support group in Avengers: Endgame. Then Eternals took things a step further by introducing Brian Tyree Henry's Phastos, a full-fledged superhero with a husband and son.
A number of individuals have speculated on Carol Danvers' sexuality as well, pointing to elements such as her close relationship with Maria Rambeau and her haircut in Endgame. It would certainly be a major win for queer representation if Marvel Studios put Captain Marvel, a billion dollar-grossing superhero, in a relationship with Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie.
Valkyrie is rumored to make an appearance in The Marvels, which, of course, stars Brie Larson as Carol Danvers, putting more fuel on this particular fire.
At the end of the day, if the fourth Thor film does its part to provide LGBTQ+ representation in the MCU, then that alone would be a milestone in and of itself.
Marvel Studios' Thor: Love and Thunder hits theaters on July 8, 2022.
