It's been hinted at before but now the MCU has taken a step towards even more diversity.
Avengers Endgame focuses on the founding members of the Avengers seeking to bring down the villainous Thanos (Josh Brolin) and restore order to the universe following the devastating cliffhanger to Avengers: Infinity War which saw the Mad Titan father the Infinity Stones and wipe out half of the population and heroes of the MCU.
The new film breaks new ground for Marvel after previous reports of cut scenes that would have made Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and Okoye (Danai Gurira) members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Warning for the mildest of spoilers for Avengers: Endgame, however.
As Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) sets up a support group in the aftermath of the Decimation, one of the attendees is a character played by co-director Joe Russo (credited as Gozie Agbo) who is grieving for the loss of a loved one and has finally managed to pluck up the courage to go on a date with another man in the aftermath.
For such a minor role it may feel small, but baby steps in the right direction?
The fan community of the MCU have long supported potential pairings like Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and, more recently, Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) and Valkyrie, despite the fact the pair have yet to truly interact on-screen.
Avengers Endgame Easter eggs: Marvel comic and MCU references we spotted
There have been reports that upcoming epic The Eternals will feature the MCU's first openly gay superhero in Hercules, but we will have to wait and see whether this comes to fruition.
If you are wondering what else lies in store for the MCU after the end of Avengers: Endgame then check out our guide to the upcoming Phase Four.
Avengers: Endgame is in cinemas now.
Do you think the MCU is diverse enough? Let us know in the comments below.
