A new report claims that Marvel Studios is looking to cast their first openly gay male lead for their upcoming 2020 film The Eternals.
The studio is reportedly keeping a very tight lid on which character they are actually looking to cast, but That Hashtag Show explains that Marvel is searching for "an actor, 30-49, who 'physically looks like a superhero'" to take on one of The Eternals' lead roles. Additionally, while they are open to actors of all ethnicities, they would prefer the role go to "an openly gay actor."
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Of course, while no concrete sources are named, this report isn't without corroboration. Last year, during a press interview regarding Ant-Man and the Wasp, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige stated that the studio would be looking to feature more LGBT inclusion in their films going forward, explaining that this representation would be comprised of both characters audiences have seen and ones they haven't.
The Eternals will reportedly be going into production later this year. Although, concrete information regarding casting is scarce at the time. That said, That Hashtag Show claims that Marvel has identified a favorite for the role of Ikarus and that director Chloé Zhao is interested in bringing Cameron Britton (The Umbrella Academy) and Tomasz Kot (Cold War) into the fold. However, it does not appear that any offers have been made as of yet.
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Directed by Chloé Zhao with a screenplay by Matthew and Ryan Firpo, The Eternals is expected to be released in theaters in 2020.