Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie (Marvel Studios)

Valkyrie will be the first official LGBTQ superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, producer Kevin Feige has confirmed.

Following on from the studio’s trailblazing panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday 20 July, he told io9 that the character – who was appointed King of Asgard by her pal Thor at the end of Avengers: Endgame – will definitely have a queer storyline when she’s next seen on the big screen.

“How that impacts the story remains to be seen with that level of representation you’ll see across our films, not in just Thor 4,” he added.

Tessa Thompson on Valkyrie: “First of all, as king, she needs to find her queen.” #MarvelSDCC pic.twitter.com/XR1I2wsUNR — Ryan Gajewski (@_RyanGajewski) July 21, 2019

Feige was quizzed on whether Valkyrie’s bisexuality would be portrayed explicitly due to Thompson’s earlier comments during the announcement of upcoming sequel Thor: Love and Thunder.

“As new king, she needs to find her queen,” she told excited fans that had gathered in the prestigious Hall H. “That will be her first order of business. She has some ideas. Keep you posted.”

LGBT representation in the MCU

Marvel Studios has a complicated history with LGBT representation. Back when Taiki Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok was being promoted, it emerged that Thompson filmed a short scene that would have made clear that Valkyrie is attracted to both men and women. But unfortunately, it was cut from the final edit.

“There were things that we talked about that we allowed to exist in the characterisation, but maybe not be explicit in the film,” the Men in Black: International actor told Rolling Stone at the time. “There’s a great shot of me falling back from one of my sisters who’s just been slain [in the Valkyrie flashback with Hela]. In my mind, that was my lover.”

Similarly, Black Panther screenwriter Joe Robert Cole admitted to ScreenCrush back in February 2018 that he “toyed” with idea of linking Dora Milaje members Okoye and Ayo romantically. Evidently, such a subplot didn’t make it in – so the news that the MCU will finally extend its inclusivity to queer superheroes is exciting.

She may not be the only LGBT+ character to feature in Phase 4 either. Elsewhere in the panel, Marvel announced The Eternals, an upcoming movie in the studio’s slate that will reportedly debut the franchise’s first gay lead.