Having come in for some criticism during the early stages of the Marvel Cinematic Universe due to a lack of diversity, Marvel Studios is putting a major focus on increasing the diversification of the MCU during Phase Three, which promises to make some major strides.
Speaking to Vulture, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has been discussing their increased emphasis on racial diversity, particularly with regards to Spider-Man: Homecoming, and how they have striven to bring together a cast which represents a realistic high school environment.
“I think that in the movies we’ve already made, and certainly in the movies that are coming up, it will be as inclusive a group of characters as one could want,” said Feige. “For us, it’s important that we don’t feel like a completely white, European cast. The comics have felt like that sometimes, in the early days, but frankly, even the comics in the ’60s … I mean, Black Panther was created in the ’60s. You look at Captain America’s team [back then]… and yes, there are things to cringe at, but they were being progressive at the time.”
“[With Spider-Man: Homecoming], our filmmaker came in and had pictures of real high schools, and they are as diverse as you could imagine,” he continued. “That was something that was important to us, to set it apart from other Spidey films that have been made — to carve that niche — and to have it represent the world today. It’s definitely important to us that these movies reflect the world.”
What do you make of Marvel’s efforts to increase the diversity of the MCU? What else needs to be done? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Marvel Studios’ “Captain: Civil War,” begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging superhero in “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”
Spider-Man: Homecoming sees Tom Holland and Marisa Tomei reprising their roles from Captain America: Civil War as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Aunt May, alongside Marvel veterans Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark and Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan. New additions to the cast include Michael Keaton (Birdman), Michael Barbieri (Little Men), Zendaya (K.C. Undercover), Angourie Rice (The Nice Guys), Tony Revolori (The Grand Budapest Hotel), Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus), Martin Starr (Silicon Valley), Donald Glover (Community), Laura Harrier (One Life to Live), Kenneth Choi (Captain America: The First Avenger), Hannibal Buress (Broad City), Isabella Amara (The Boss), Jorge Lendeborg, Jr. (Graceland), JJ Totah (Glee), Abraham Attah (Beasts of No Nation), Michael Mando (Better Call Saul), Selenis Leyva (Orange Is the New Black), Bokeem Woodbine (Riddick), Tyne Daly (Cagney & Lacey), Garcelle Beauvais (Hollywood Today Live), Tiffany Espensen (Kirby Buckets), Michael Chernus (Orange is the New Black), Jona Xiao (Halt and Catch Fire) and Martha Kelly (Baskets). The film is set for release on July 7th, 2017.
Originally published November 2, 2016. Updated April 15, 2018.
