The comprehensive book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards, is out and it contains some interesting behind-the-scenes information about censorship of LGBTQ+ content for some conservative international markets, and about the tenure of Victoria Alonso, once the highest ranked Latina lesbian executive in Hollywood, who was suddenly terminated this past March. In MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, the authors describe some of the cuts made by Marvel to de-gay its films for the Chinese market, including cutting a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it relationship in Wakanda Forever and excising the queer-friendly signs and flags in the background of the San Francisco scenes of Quantumania. The book says that this happened after Alonso had broken one of Kevin Feige’s cardinal rules: “Don’t speak out publicly against the company” for joining public pressure encouraging Disney to speak out against Florida’s Don’t Say Gay bill in 2022. According to the authors’ sources, after the Don’t Say Gay outcry, Fiege reportedly cautioned Alonso to “keep her head down and do the work.” It’s long been assumed by fans that Marvel has made cuts to gay storylines and relationships in part to make their films more palatable in conservative markets.
