America Chavez is one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most famous LGBTQ+ characters, and there's understandably a great deal of excitement surrounding her live-action debut. While she was once set to appear in Spider-Man: No Way Home (based on some early concept art we've seen do the rounds), she will now be introduced in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
During the global press conference for the Doctor Strange sequel, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige was asked how important it was that America's LGBTQ+ status be addressed in a meaningful way.
"It's important [because] we always say that these films represent the world as it is and the world outside your window, as they used to say in publishing. That aspect of America's character is from the comics, so we always want to adapt them as well and as truthfully as we can. I think when people see the movie, much like in life, it is not any one thing that defines any one character."
"As Xochi said, she's a 14-year-old girl figuring out this very traumatic element of her life, which is not the LGBTQ+ issue. It is the fact that she keeps being tossed around the Multiverse. Again, that is not what the movie is about, but it is an important part of the character she becomes in the comics," he continued, teasing what might lie ahead. "So we wanted to touch upon that."
America Chavez feels like a character who is tailor-made for her own movie or TV show, so her sexuality is hopefully something that's tackled in a bigger way down the line. Marvel Studios has refused to censor Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness for a variety of countries, choosing instead to preserve the character's sexuality on screen. That's a decision welcomed by comic book fans.
"Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a one of a kind blockbuster experience and a pure, unadulterated Sam Raimi movie that, while not quite the crazy ride through the Multiverse we expected, delivers a fun, horror-tinged trip," we said in our review of the blockbuster this week.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now playing in theaters!