Marvel stars Tessa Thompson and Brie Larson stirred up excitement this week with cryptic hints about an upcoming collaboration. Though details remain scarce, the mere thought of the two joining forces was enough to ignite a frenzy of joyful speculation. Since director Kevin Feige confirmed in 2019 that Thompson’s Valkyrie would be MCU’s first LGBTQ+ hero, queer fans have hotly speculated that she and Larson’s Captain Marvel could have an on-screen romance in the forthcoming installment of Thor, due out next year.
Their latest interaction hit the fandom like a match in a puddle of gasoline, but what it could ultimately mean remains anyone’s guess. It all started, as so many of the best sagas do, with a simple yet mildly thirsty celebrity appreciation tweet. Twitter user @valcarol posted an old photo of Thompson and Larson at an Ace Universe panel accompanied by the caption: “Tessa Thompson and Brie Larson appreciation tweet because they.”
The first twist came when Larson herself quoted the tweet, writing, “We’re cooking something up.” As if that weren’t suggestive enough, the Captain Marvel star followed up her message with the sideways, tongue-out, googly-eyed emoji.
Thompson then confirmed the news that the two indeed have something brewing, quoting Larson’s tweet and adding simply, “Oui.”
Fans rejoiced at whatever the two actors might be getting at, and were quick to recall that they have already delivered a host of iconic moments together.
Most memorably, their appearance at an ACE Comic Con event in 2019 resulted in what might have been lesbian fanfiction but was — somehow, marvelously — real life. When a moderator asked what the two actors were most looking forward to fans seeing in an upcoming project, a heroic voice in the crowd shouted: “Lesbians!”
To which came Larson’s now-legendary response: “How do I top ‘lesbians’?”
Thompson chimed in: “I’m sure the lesbians could show you…right after this panel.”
Thompson came out as bisexial in a 2018 interview with Net-A-Porter, saying, “I’m attracted to men and also to women. If I bring a woman home, [or] a man, we don’t even have to have the discussion.” Earlier this year, Larson drew speculation with a YouTube video that showed her taking internet quizzes to pass the time. To a question that read: “You’re 10 years old, how do you spend an hour of recess?” came Larson’s response: “Searching Wikihow on the library computer for ‘how do you know if you’re gay.’”
The playful friendship between the two, whatever it may mean on screen or off, gives fans plenty to look forward to. Even if it’s just more impromptu mic-drops on the press trail.
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