Diversity Will Be Marvel’s Gold Standard Going Forward, Says Endgame Director
The future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will focus on diversity, according to Avengers: Endgame director Joe Russo. Whereas the first few phases of the MCU pivoted around characters who predominantly represent a limited spectrum of representation, the future is going to be all about inclusion.
In Phase One of the MCU, the central characters included Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Thor Odinson, Bruce Banner, Clint Barton, and Natasha Romanoff; so, it's hard to argue against earlier MCU films having a slightly uneven ratio for representation. That said, as years passed, Marvel has become more open-minded on the subject of inclusivity, releasing films like Black Panther and Captain Marvel - though it wasn't until around the ten year-mark that it happened. Now, Marvel is branching out even further - and at steadier pace - making sure that future films in the MCU are more diverse than ever.
In an interview with Variety, Kevin Feige, the cast of Avengers: Endgame, and its directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, opened up about their experiences in the MCU. And, while the focus revolved around the concluding film in Phase Three of the franchise, Joe Russo explained that the future of the MCU will be much more inclusive, saying, "The future of these movies will be an inclusive one. Diversity, both in front of and behind the camera, will be its gold standard."
As far as Marvel's diverse future goes, nothing official has been announced yet, but there are a handful of characters expected to get their own standalone films. Aside from sequels to both Black Panther and Captain Marvel, the MCU will introduce its first Asian superhero with Shang-Chi, Scarlett Johansson will lead her own standalone Black Widow film, and there has even been talk about the first openly gay superhero in the MCU, according to Marvel executive Victoria Alonso.
As successful and entertaining as the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been over the past decade, there is always room for improvement when it comes to representing its diverse and devoted fanbase on screen. So, the fact that diversity will play such a big role in future films is exciting to say the least, even if it might seem like it took longer than it probably should have. So, while Star Wars: The Last Jedi may have started the conversation that anyone has the potential to be a hero, Marvel is pulling no punches (so to speak) in putting that idea into action.
Source: Variety