Two of the newest projects from Marvel Studios, Eternals and Hawkeye, have been honored by the Ruderman Family Foundation for accurately portraying disability in media.
The news was disclosed by THR that the Foundation has recognized both properties, each earning the Seal of Authentic Representation. Eternals featured Deaf actor Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, a superhero with powers of speed, while in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, Alaqua Cox (Deaf and also an amputee) starred as Maya Lopez, also known as Echo, the leader of the Track Suit Mafia. The film and the Disney+ series showcased these characters communicating with others through American Sign Language.
The Ruderman Family Foundation advocates for including people with disabilities in entertainment media. The criteria for recognition include featuring actors with disabilities in roles with a minimum of five lines of dialogue. Both of the Marvel actors received a lot of appreciation for their work from critics and audiences alike in their respective projects.
Eternals director Chloé Zhao reacted to the honor saying, "Makkari is full of heart and wisdom. She is strong, charismatic, mysterious and mischievous. We are very lucky to have found Lauren Ridloff, who is our real-life Makkari! She has brought this character to life with love and conviction and has taught us so much in the process."
Sarah Finn, the casting director for both Eternals and Hawkeye, also released a statement. "Not only was [Ridloff] overly qualified to join an already high-level cast, she elevated the ensemble with her unique spirit, talents and charisma," she said. "It's been a privilege getting to know her through the process and seeing what a real-life hero she has become to so many."
Finn further praised Cox's performance, saying, "Alaqua Cox's character, Maya Lopez/Echo, is based off an existing Marvel character who is deaf and Native American. In casting the role, we wanted to celebrate and honor both Deaf and Native American cultures. We couldn't be more delighted by Alaqua Cox's performance. She is phenomenal and part of a new culture in film and television, where authentic representation not only matters but is paramount to the kind of stories we want to tell and how we shape them."
Cox will be returning as Echo in her own Disney+ series. While no announcements have been made for an Eternals sequel, Ridloff is expected to return as Makkari in future MCU projects.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter