Marvel And DC Could Take Some Tips From Some Of The Responses To Gina Rodriguez’s Tweet
Gina Rodriguez has made it her side mission to showcase Latino talent with her Instagram campaign, #MovementMondays, which highlights Latinos who are making a mark in the entertainment industry. However, there is one place Rodriguez wants to see more improvement: comic superhero films.
Gina Rodriguez got everyone’s attention when she tweeted about the lack of Latinos in superhero films.
Marvel and DC are killing it in inclusion and women but where are the Latinos?! Asking for a friend…
— Gina Rodriguez (@HereIsGina) July 23, 2017
Short, sweet, and to the point.
People immediately settled right in to watch the conversations that would follow.
— Seana ? (@pottsy000) July 23, 2017
Who doesn’t love a good tea time?
People were quick to point some examples of diversity, including Marvel’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”
There are 3 on Marvel's Agents of SHIELD :). pic.twitter.com/LMb02lyYsi
— Kyle Livingston (@KyleLivings92) July 25, 2017
The Netflix show includes a diverse cast representing many different walks of life. Rodriguez’s tweet does say that “Marvel and DC are killing it in inclusion,” but what other Latino representation is there?
Zoe Saldana as Gamora (“Guardians of the Galaxy”) and Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie (“Thor: Ragnarok”) also came up in the conversation.
Zoe Saldana and Tessa Thompson have Latina roots don't they? Michael Pena too.
— dammit, jim! (@_ismybones) July 23, 2017
Honestly, Thompson being cast as Valkyrie is a pretty big deal. Valkyrie has traditionally been depicted as a white, blonde-haired woman in the comics.
But some people pointed out that Gamora isn’t Latina — she’s a green aalien who doesn’t represent the Latino community.
I took her to mean asking about in movies
Which in that case the only visible one is Tessa Thompson
Zoe is Latinx but she's green so :/— Latinx Geeks (@LatinxGeeks) July 25, 2017
Meanwhile, there are a handful of Latino-specific superheroes that have yet to get their own movies, like America Chavez and Miles Morales.
waiting for Miles Morales and America Chavez like pic.twitter.com/iQU7PWaqBh
— alex medina (@mrmedina) July 23, 2017
Although those characters don’t have the years of history that other superheroes do, now could be a great time for those movies to be made. Just look at the latest reports comparing “Girls Trip” to “Rough Night.” The two movies have similar plots, but “Girls Trip,” which has a mostly black cast, outperformed “Rough Night” on their opening weekends by more than $20 million. Clearly, movies with people of color can make money.
One person suggested that Rodriguez would make a great Jessica Cruz, a Latina Green Lantern.
Lets get this done already pic.twitter.com/hzpyvqSNAs
— LIM (@Latinosinmovies) July 23, 2017
??
Twitter user @iloanya1 reminded everyone that, yes, Latinos are people of color, too.
Latinos need to be represented but they need to join the fight too…sometimes some Latinos act like they aren't POC..we all should be in it
— chimezie (@iloanya1) July 23, 2017
? ?
Even one of the stars from Marvel’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” agreed that there is always room for improvement.
All this said…we need more for sure…specifically in the film sector. ??
— Natalia Cordova (@YOSOYCORDOVA) July 24, 2017
Natalia Cordova-Bucley plays Elena ‘Yo-Yo’ Rodriguez on “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” who is a Colombian superhero with superhuman speed in the show. Her nickname Yo-Yo comes from her ability to move super fast and return to where she started in a heartbeat. ✊? ?? ??
READ: Gina Rodriguez’s Fans Are Asking Marvel To Make Her The Next Miss America Superhero
Share this story with all of your friends by tapping that little share button below!
Notice any needed corrections? Please email us at corrections@wearemitu.com