Normally, when Marvel Studios releases character posters for an upcoming film, they’re mainly just another way for the studio to highlight everyone’s favorite characters and earn a bit more social media buzz. But when Marvel Studios released the “Avenge the Fallen” posters for “Avengers: Endgame,” fans were shocked to see that Tessa Thompson was featured as her character Valkyrie, confirming that the fan-favorite warrior will make a surprise (well not anymore) appearance in the upcoming team-up flick.
And speaking to the LA Times, the new Avenger, Thompson, talks about her character’s surprise status and the future of the MCU. Oh and obviously, she talks about if her real-life friendship with Brie Larson will result in a new relationship for both Valkyrie and Captain Marvel.
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After the famous snap from Thanos’ Infinity Guantlet, the question that everyone asked Thompson was about the fate of her MCU character, who wasn’t seen dead or turned to dust in ‘Infinity War.’ But according to the actress, she has no good explanation for what Valkyrie was doing during the last ‘Avengers’ film and really has to defer to directors Joe and Anthony Russo for the answer.
“Sometimes I say she was in the bar,” said Thompson. “She’s alive though because the Russo brothers have said that, she’s not dead.”
Now, just because she has a poster and isn’t dead doesn’t mean she plays a pivotal role in the upcoming ‘Endgame.’ Hell, Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan got their own posters, and we don’t think they’re going to end up toe-to-toe with Thanos. But even if Valkyrie doesn’t have a lot to do in ‘Endgame,’ Thompson says she’s heard rumblings about a brand-new ‘Thor’ film, featuring none other than ‘Ragnarok’ director Taika Waititi behind the camera yet again.
“I heard that a pitch has happened for [another ‘Thor’ film]. I don’t know how real that intel is, but I hear that the pitch has happened. I think the idea is Taika would come back.”
As mentioned above, after the revelation that Thompson’s superhero character is queer, many fans were waiting to find out when Marvel Studios would allow the actress a chance to explore that on the big screen. And when the sexuality of Captain Marvel was kept ambiguous in the recent blockbuster, the campaign for Carol Danvers and Valkyrie to hook up began. And while Thompson isn’t sure about that pairing, in particular, she’s excited about the diverse, queer-friendly future of the MCU.
“That’s wild!” she said. “It didn’t even occur to me, legitimately, that it was necessarily a romantic thing. I don’t even know what happens in the canon in terms of those characters or if they ever intersect, but I just love the idea of more women Marvel characters getting to intersect. I just think it’s so cool and it’s time and why not? There’s so many compelling female characters inside of the MCU.”
She continued, “And just selfishly, when I get to see those women in passing, they’re all such cool women. So the idea of getting to spend time with them and hang out is so fun. I’m just excited that this new phase promises to have women and queer folks.”
That’s all well and good, but the fans really want to know if she “ships” them. For those over the age of 20 and not obsessed with all things fandom, the idea of “shipping” comes from the term “relationship” and yes, it means combining two characters in an intimate way. God, I feel old just typing that.
“I kind of ship them, but I would like to have a drink with them,” she said. “I also have seen some other people shipping Thor and Captain Marvel which, when they see each other, that’s kind of steamy. [But] I don’t think I ship any two characters. I’m just for everybody.”
We’re not sure if the Russos ship them, but we’ll likely find out how Valkyrie and Captain Marvel work together when “Avengers: Endgame” hits theaters on April 26.