10 Queer Actors Who Appeared in Marvel Films

The latest release in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is this week's Deadpool & Wolverine. The cast features returning actor Karan Soni, reprising his role as Deadpool's cab-driving pal Dopinder. The out gay actor originated the role from the first two Deadpool films. Soni was neither the first or last out queer actor to appear in a Marvel film, as the franchise has often been inclusive with its casting. In honor of the latest entry in the franchise, this week's listicle puts the spotlight on 10 out queer male actors who have appeared in Marvel movies. Leave a comment below if we missed any of your favorites. Warning: Spoilers Ahead!

 

Greg Rikaart
Film: X2: X-Men United (2003)
The first time viewers see the X-Men on-screen in the 2003 sequel X2: X-Men United they are shown on a field trip with students from Professor Xavier's mutant school. Days of Our Lives star Greg Rikaart appears in the sequence as "Museum Teenager #2," a young man who harrasses Rogue (Anna Paquin) along with his teen cohort (Glen Curtis), leading to a confrontation with Rogue's fellow student John (Aaron Stanford). While Greg's character escapes consequences in the conflict, his pal gets set on fire when John unleashes his mutant power, causing Bobby (Shawn Ashmore) to intervene, showing off his ability to control ice. The film features several other actors on this list.

 

Fernando Rivera
Film: Fantastic Four (2015)
About halfway through the FOX film re-imagining of the iconic comic series, Reed Richards (Miles Teller) is shown on the run from the government looking to harness his power. Fernando Rivera appears in the film, credited as Disguised Reed, who is shown in a South American shop looking to buy a machine part. The sequence reveals a unique aspect of Reed's stretchy superpower that allows him to disguise his face and look completely different. The out actor Rivera spoke only in Spanish for the role. Reed's luck evading discovery would soon run out. Shortly after stretching back to his own face, his location becomes compromised and he's brought back into government hands.

 

Zeljko Ivanek
Film: X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
The year after FOX's panned Fantastic Four film, the studio released the X-Men sequel, X-Men: Apocalypse, which featured the team coming together to defeat the ancient all-powerful titular villain in the 1980s. With the young Magneto (Michael Fassbender) as one of the horsemen of Apocalypse, he unleashes his powers of magnetism on a massive scale during the film's climax. This puts him on the radar of the Pentagon, leading to a cameo from veteran actor Zeljko Ivanek. The out actor appears as a scientist, who details the effects of Magneto's power on the planet, and the devastation that will ensue if it is not stopped. Ivanek's character was not given a name in the film.

 

Haaz Sleiman
Film: Eternals (2021)
One of Marvel's least-talked about films in the modern franchise was Eternals. When a major tragedy unfolds, a group of ancient aliens who have been living on earth in secret are forced out of the shadows and must come together to defeat an ancient enemy known as the Deviants. The Eternals team includes one of the only queer MCU superheroes in Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry). The film also introduced Phastos' family, which included his husband Ben, who was played by out actor Haaz Sleiman. He appeared in a few scenes of the film, including an iconic moment, as  Phastos & Ben were shown kissing. It was the first and, so far, only queer male kiss in MCU film history.

 

Nico Santos
Film: Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 (2023)
The blockbuster third entry in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise found the titular heroes rallying to once again defend the universe, as well as one of their own team members, on a mission that threatened to destroy them all. The Oscar-nominated film from director James Gunn pit the Guardians against The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), who was often flanked by his henchmen, Recorder Theel and Recorder Vim (Miriam Shor). Out actor Nico Santos played the supporting role of Recorder Theel, appearing in multiple scenes throughout the film. Santos shared screentime with several of the film's stars, including leading man Chris Pratt.

 

Elliot Page
Films: X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Prior to his transition, trans actor Elliot Page joined the FOX studios X-Men franchise in the role of Kitty Pryde. The character played a big role in X-Men: The Last Stand, which saw a diminished team heading into battle against an army led by Magneto (Ian McKellen). New recruit Kitty got to shine in the sequence while also providing a romantic obstacle for Rogue & Bobby. Page reprised the role, playing a pivotal part in 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past where Kitty's mutant power was used to allow leading man Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to travel into the past for the film's primary plotline. Kitty was also shown to now be in a romance with Bobby/Iceman.

 

Karan Soni
Film: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Karan Soni's contribution to the Marvel Cinematic Universe has not been confined to the Deadpool franchise. The out gay actor also lent his voice to the acclaimed sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which saw Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) traveling across the multiverse, redefining what it means to be a hero, as he teamed up with a group of Spider-People attempting to protect the very existence of the multiverse itself. His adventure led to him meeting Pavitr Prabhakar, voiced by Soni. Pavitr would suit-up as the Indian web slinger from Earth-50101B. Pavitr's origin story mirrors Peter Parker's in many ways, from his humble upbringing to his parents' untimely demise.

 

Lee Pace
Films: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Captain Marvel (2019)
Riding high off his role in The Hobbit franchise, Lee Pace joined the MCU in 2014, taking on the role of the Kree villain Ronan the Executioner. First appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy, Ronan looked to get his hands on an infinity stone with plans to purge the universe. He was ultimately thwarted by the united Guardians in their first adventure. The out actor would reprise the role in Captain Marvel, which occurred before the events of his previous outing. The film put a focus on the galactic war between the Skrulls and the Kree. Given Carol Danvers' position on the Kree side at the start of the film, it was Ronan's appearance that assured audiences that the Kree were the true villains.

 

Alan Cumming
Film: X2: X-Men United (2003)
The 2003 sequel to FOX's X-Men film cast out actor Alan Cumming in the pivotal role of Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler, a German mutant with the ability to teleport. He opens the film with an attack on the White House, putting mutant relations into major jeopardy. Over the course of the film, Kurt gets a major arc as he seeks redemption and also connection with the outside world after an abusive past. It's the X-Men that come to his emotional rescue and he teams up with them for the film's climax, helping to rescue the abducted Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart). While he appears to join the team at the end of the film, this would be Cumming's only appearance in the role.

 

Ian McKellen
Films: X-Men (2000), X2: X-Men United (2003), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Legendary film actor Ian McKellen began FOX's X-Men franchise in the role of iconic villain, and sometimes antihero, Magneto. The out English actor appeared in five films in the franchise as one of the X-Men's biggest antagonists. McKellen brought Magneto to life, using his performance chops to give the character the depth and range that helped audiences understand his motiviations, while also infusing the character with a sarcastic snark that would solidify his status as a popular villain. Magneto's long-standing complicated relationship with Professor Xavier was also a cornerstone of the films, enhanced by McKellen's personal friendship with his co-star Patrick Stewart.