'The Eternals' Actor Discusses Powerful, Emotional First Gay Kiss On Set

Haaz Sleiman’s character in “The Eternals” doesn’t have a name yet, but what we just found out is that the actor will be participating in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first on-screen same-sex kiss. The actor had a lot to say about the emotional impact of it.

Men’s Health reported that Brian Tyree Henry’s superhero character Phastos would portray Marvel’s first openly gay, on-screen character. They discussed how Phastos would be seen in a same-sex relationship and has been seen in footage shown at CCXP 2019 to be holding hands with a man, next to the couple’s children.

Kevin Feige confirmed that Phastos’s family will be a big part of who he is. Sleiman, whose still-nameless role was unspecified until now, will play the husband of Phastos and the two of them are the ones sharing the onscreen kiss.

According to NewNowNext, who interviewed the Lebanese-American actor, the kiss brought the whole room to tears. “It’s a beautiful, very moving kiss,” Sleiman told them. “Everyone cried on set.”

Sleiman, who is an openly gay man in real life, originally left his home country to come to America so he could be who he truly is. He found his voice in acting and is now making MCU history. This moment packs a heavy meaning for the 43-year-old actor. “For me it’s very important to show how loving and beautiful a queer family can be,” something that hasn’t yet been seen in a superhero movie, much less the MCU.

While these two share the first gay kiss, it’s worth noting that we’ve had LGBTQ characters in the past. Joe Russo’s nameless support group attendee spoke about a date he had with a man, in which they both cried. Also, it was confirmed that Tessa Thompson’s “Thor: Ragnarok” character Valkyrie is bisexual.

As some fans have pointed out, Marvel Television has been better about gay representation than Marvel Studios. Hulu's “Runaways” heavily featured a romance between two women as did Netflix's "Jessica Jones." Although the movies have never acknowledged the TV shows, producers have stated they are all part of the MCU.

Sleiman offered praise to his on-screen partner, Henry: “Brian Tyree Henry is such a tremendous actor and brought so much beauty into this part, and at one point I saw a child in his eyes, and I think it’s important for the world to be reminded that we in the queer community were all children at one point.”

“The Eternals” releases Nov. 6, 2020.