Joe Lockeone of the stars Agatha all the timeDefends his casting in the upcoming MCU series. While Agatha all the time The film will focus on Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness, and the casting of Joe Locke has received a lot of attention from some Marvel fans. It's worth noting that he's only referred to as “the teenager,” but all signs point to him playing Billy Kaplan, aka Wiccan, who in the comics is the reincarnated son of Wanda Maximoff and Vision Billy's son. The character was last seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Julian Hillard plays Wiccan. Wiccan is one of Marvel's most prominent gay superheroes, so casting Luke is a good sign for representation.
However, not everyone accepted Luke's choice in Agatha all the time.talk to diverseLuke admits he's heard criticism of his performance from LGBTQ+ fans after the show's trailers were released. In response to allegations that he's playing a “homosexual stereotype”Luke says it's an authentic representation.
“It was like, ‘Oh, why did Marvel portray this kind of homosexuality?’ It really bothered me because I felt like I couldn’t ask for a real cast and then feel upset if I had a vulgar character.”
Luke, who has been a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since he was five years old when Iron Man and amazing hulk Released in 2008, the film is set against some of Marvel's most toxic fans who don't want any gay representation in the movies. Luke says he's okay with the criticism and knows Marvel fans will speak up, but he also responds to it in a lighthearted way. He said:
“I fully understand that Marvel fans are a lot less kind than ‘Heartstopper’ fans. There are going to be a lot of people who hate everything about the character and everything about what I did with her, and I just have to be okay with that. Marvel fans are very open about their opinions. But they’re not on the Marvel show, so — I’m doing the one thing they really wish they could do. Sorry!”
The importance of representation
While MCU fans may not have the same overly toxic issues, star wars Fan communities have had their fair share of toxic tendencies over the past few years. There have been review bombs targeting female-focused MCU projects (captain marvel, What's up: Lawyer), people of color (Ms. Marvel), and leads the LGBTQ+ (Eternity).
In many ways, the criticism of Luke’s character as a “gay role model” speaks more to the problem the MCU has had with a lack of LGBTQ+ representation. A lot of weight is placed on Luke’s Wiccan to represent the LGBTQ+ spectrum that isn’t placed on straight heroes like Iron Man, the Hulk, and Captain America. When it comes to LGBTQ+ superheroes, Marvel Studios has some notable names like Phastos from Eternity Valkyrie from bull It is worth noting that Brian Tyree Henry (Fastos) is a straight actor. With Fastos' fate unclear after the cancellation of Eternity 2 and Valkyrie As a supporting character, the Marvel Cinematic Universe lacks leading LGBTQ+ superheroes, so more pressure is placed on Locke's Wiccan to represent everyone who identifies as gay, an unfair burden placed on him.
However, one criticism of Locke’s casting as Wicca raises a different kind of concern. In addition to being one of Marvel Comics’ most popular gay superheroes, Wicca is one of the most prominent Jewish superheroes. Locke does not consider himself Jewish, and while that is a big part of Wicca’s identity, some fans have taken issue with the casting. Along with criticism of Robert Downey Jr.’s whitewashing of Doctor Doom, the conversation about representation in Hollywood has become more important. There’s a big difference between that kind of criticism and the discomfort of an openly gay actor playing a popular gay character in a way they feel comfortable with.
