Pedro Almodóvar: Sexuality doesn’t exist for superheroes. They are neutered
The openly gay Spanish filmmaker has never been afraid to show his characters' sexuality
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Pedro Almodóvar says sexuality doesn’t exist for superheroes as the ‘adventure is what’s important’.
The Spanish filmmaker has brought many queer stories to cinemas including Bad Education, Julieta, I’m so Excited and Law of Desire but when it comes to large budget, Hollywood movies like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there is a distinct differences between his films and those.
For one, Almodóvar is not afraid to step over the boundaries and show the sexuality or gender identity of his characters, a striking difference between the MCU which has yet to feature an openly gay superhero character.
But while speaking to Vulture, the openly gay filmmaker has suggested that the lack of sexuality in superhero films is because ‘sexuality doesn’t exist’ for them.
He said: “There are many, many movies about superheroes. And sexuality doesn’t exist for superheroes. They are neutered.
“There is an unidentified gender, the adventure is what’s important. You can find, among independent movies, more of this sexuality.
“The human being has such sexuality! I get the feeling that in Europe, in Spain, that I have much more freedom than if I worked here.”
He also added he would never want to helm a superhero movie because he doesn’t want to fit with the ‘Hollywood system’.