Here’s How Twitter Is Reacting To Diversity In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

It’s the post-“Avengers: Endgame” era, and Marvel roles and castings had never been more diverse. At the San Diego Comic-Con 2019, Marvel announced a timeline of upcoming films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), introducing a Tony-nominated deaf actress, female leads and Asian heroes.

This era of diversity seems to be a universe away from the previous featuring a white male guy as lead. Scarlett Johansson will be rocking her role in the standalone “Black Widow” film, while deaf actress Lauren Ridloff is joining Angelina Jolie in “The Eternals” film.

In 2021, Marvel will release its first Asian American superhero in the film “Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings,” with Canadian star Simu Liu. In the same year, a female will be holding Thor’s hammer, with Natalie Portman behind the female Thor role.

Actor Liu also tweeted about his take on the role. “There is so much at stake here; we are fighting for our identity, for our right to be seen, to belong,” he tweeted.

While many personalities and fans are lauding the show of diversity, not everyone is convinced. Some fans can’t help but wonder, ‘why only now?’

Another user is happy about the progress in the upcoming films but will not praise Marvel for allegedly having waited until it is profitable before putting in diverse roles into its films.

Some are genuinely happy and excited about relating to the new Asian American hero. “I know comics are for everyone but his film is specifically for me,” said this Twitter user on the “Shang-Chi” film.

In December 2018, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige expressed their commitment to bringing diversity into their films, mentioning that “Black Panther” was the beginning.

“That [Black Panther] worked out as well as it worked out has encouraged us to head in the direction we were going to head in anyway,” he said in a statement. “But you look at that film, it is incredible. That movie would not have been what it was if everyone sitting at the table looked like you or me.”

The timeline released by Marvel for upcoming films is as follows:

• “Black Widow” (May 1, 2020)
• “Falcon And Winter Soldier” (Fall of 2020)
• “The Eternals” (Nov. 6, 2020)
• “Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The 10 Rings” (Feb. 12, 2021)
• “Doctor Strange 2: In The Multiverse Of Madness” (May 7, 2021)
• “Loki” (Spring of 2021)
• “Hawkeye” (Fall of 2021)
• “Thor: Love And Thunder” (Nov. 5, 2021)

​