Thor: Ragnarok cut a scene that would have addressed Valkyrie's sexuality, but with Marvel Studios finally (albeit slowly) embracing LGBTQ+ representation, the hope is that the character's queer status will be a big part of Thor: Love and Thunder.
When the movie was announced during 2019's San Diego Comic-Con, Tessa Thompson told fans, "As new King, [Valkyrie] has to find her queen. So that’ll be her first order of business." Since then, speculation has run rampant about who that might be. The Mighty Thor? Sif? Captain Marvel? Unfortunately, it appears the answer is "none of the above."
Talking to The Los Angeles Times, Thompson dialled back expectations. "We’ve had lots of conversations about it," she explains. "I think there’s a lot of folks that are righteously very hungry for that representation to exist in these movies, as am I. But I also think [it’s important] not to hang the character’s hat solely on her sexual identity just because she’s a queer character. I think that’s one way of minimizing her humanity, actually, if that’s the only facet that you get to explore her in."
It's a valid point, but it also sounds like Marvel Studios has walked back on its promise to fully explore the MCU's first openly gay superhero in the Thor: Ragnarok sequel. Ultimately, it seems there just wasn't room for that in a movie we know has already cut two massive cameos.
"With this film, there’s so many characters that are being introduced, there’s a lot of plot, and so there was a number of things that we wanted to explore with Valkyrie and her longing for love was just one of many," Thompson added. "I feel really happy with the balance that we struck."
Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi would point out, "I’d love to see her with a girlfriend in any movie. We had some talks, but there was something about that character that I find really interesting as someone who’s OK with being alone. So often people are like ‘to show someone is queer, you have to see them with someone.’"
"But [Valkyrie] lost the love of her life, and the most important person in her life [now], that’s she’s trying to learn how to love, is herself," he continues. "And I think that’s just a stronger message, no matter what your orientation."
Again, it sounds like the decision to not introduce a love interest for Valkyrie makes sense within the context of the story, but this is going to result in a lot of disappointed fans. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness wasn't released in a handful of countries because Marvel Studios refused to cut America Chavez's openly gay parents, but her sexuality was a total non-factor despite the fact that she's an LGBTQ+ icon in the comic books.
Thor: Love and Thunder arrives in theaters later this week!