Marvel are reportedly looking to cast their first openly gay superhero, and fans have already suggested who could take over the role.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige hinted that the studio was working towards bringing a new LGBTQ character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe last year, and now it's been claimed that casting has opened.

According to the That Hashtag Show, Marvel are on the hunt for an actor who will play the lead role in their 2020 feature film The Eternals.

Fan favourite; Marvel are reportedly looking to cast their first openly gay superhero, and fans have suggested that Captain America (played by Chris Evans) should take the role

The studio is said to be searching for an actor who "physically looks like a superhero" between the ages of 30 and 49.

Whilst no preference over ethnicity has been stated, they would prefer the part to go to a gay actor.

The Eternals will take place millions of years ago and sees the result of genetic experiments on humans to create super-powered individuals and villainous other beings known as the Deviants, who battled throughout history to become the ultimate race.

The film, directed by Chloe Zhao, is scheduled to beginning shooting in the UK in September and will be released in 2020.

MailOnline has contacted a Marvel spokesperson for comment.

Watch out: Marvel are on the hunt for an actor to play the lead role in their 2020 film The Eternals. The latest Marvel film came out this month and stars Brie Larson as Captain Marvel

Taking to Twitter as the reports began to circulate, fans asked if Captain America - played by Chris Evans - would come out as gay, amid fan theories that the superhero is homosexual.

They posted: 'How is Captain America not gay enough?';

'no no no see captain america was GOOD because even though he worked for an oppressive murderous government regime i've constructed this whole backstory about how his nyc upbringing made him open-minded and progressive and maybe gay'

'Captain America has been gay this whole time'.

A hashtag was also spawned back in 2016 to petition Marvel to make Captain American come out, with fans attempting to make #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend trend.

Theories: Taking to Twitter as the reports began to circulate, fans asked if Captain America - played by Chris Evans - would come out as gay

Theory: The latest film to be released by Marvel has also created a buzz in the LGBTQ community, with several fans claiming that Captain Marvel - played by Brie Larson - is gay

The latest film to be released by Marvel has also created a buzz in the LGBTQ community, with several fans claiming that Captain Marvel - played by Brie Larson - is gay.

Fans posted: 'captain marvel replacing captain america and both of them being gay...wow what symbolism'; 'Also I would like to thank the film makers for keeping Carol's massive gay energy alive in that movie #CaptainMarvel

'Carol Danvers is gay, and no one can convince me otherwise! I have more feelings on #CaptainMarvel than just that, but that's all I want from the MCU

'i am absolutely certain that captain marvel was made with the intent of carol and maria being gay but marvel and disney are cowards and had it cut'; 'Let Carol be gay you scoundrels!!! #CaptainMarvel'

Captain Marvel is the 21st film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the company's first ever female-led standalone superhero film.

The highly anticipated movie stars Brie Larson as Carol Danvers, a former US Air Force fighter pilot, who turns into one of the galaxy's mightiest heroes, she doesn't have a love interest in the film, with her most important relationship being the one between herself and friend Maria.