Haaz Sleiman Talks About The Groundbreaking Inclusion Of Gay Romance In Marvels’ Eternals

Actor Haaz Sleiman, known for his roles on the TV series Jack Ryan and Little America, has revealed a few details about his hotly-anticipated new Marvel film, Eternals.

Eternals may be several months away, but it’s still positioned to be a groundbreaking superhero film. One of the most notable members of the cast is Brian Tyree Henry’s Phastos, the first openly gay hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. Phastos will also be married to Haaz Sleiman’s character, as they raise a child together.

While further details about Sleiman’s character are largely under wraps, he shared his feelings about the film while promoting his latest movie, the rom-com, Breaking Fast, in an interview with NewNowNext. He was full of assurance for queer audiences that Marvel has gone to great lengths to ensure respectful treatment.

Haaz Sleiman’s Mo plays the love interest to Michael Cassidy’s Kal in ‘Breaking Fast’

“It’s my first Marvel film, so of course I’m excited,” Sleiman said. “My gut feeling is you’ll be so proud. What Marvel has been able to accomplish, I’m so proud of them because they approached it in a very thoughtful way, and Phastos is one of the biggest superheroes in the film. I’m his husband, an architect; we have a child.”

He added, “Even though I wished I was the superhero, because when will we see an Arab Muslim openly gay actor playing a superhero? I can’t wait to see it.”

Sleiman also clarified that he’s excited to see the movie as everyone else. “If I’m not Angelina Jolie or Salma Hayek, you know I haven’t seen it,” he said.

Richard Madden and Angelina Jolie headline Eternals as Ikaris and Thena, respectively. Gemma Chan also returns to the MCU as Sersi, after playing Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel. Additionally, Kumail Nanjiani co-stars as Kingo, with Salma Hayek as Ajak, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, and Lauren Ridloff as Makkari. Madden’s Game of Thrones co-star, Kit Harington, also has a role in the film as Dane Whitman AKA the Black Knight.

Eternals will hit theaters on November 5, 2021, COVID permitting.