Longtime Marvel Studios executive and overtly queer Latine Victoria Alonsowhose history with the company dates back to 2008 Iron Man, left the company. Among fans, there is already a lot of speculation about the reasons for her exit from the studio, which is coming on the heels Ant-Man and the Wasp: QuantumaniaPoor performance at the box office and complaints from Marvel VFX artists about overwork and underpaid.
Reasons [Alonso’s] The exit is not clear. Hollywood Reporter Written on the morning of March 20th.
However, the outlet’s sources say she parted ways with Marvel Studios on Friday. Having been with the company since the early days of Marvel Cinematic UniverseAlonso worked on many of Marvel’s biggest films during her 17-year tenure with the studio, “watching the studio grow from operating atop a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Beverly Hills to a Disney acquisition.”
Alonso joined the company in 2006 as President of Visual Effects and Post Production and has played a significant role in the MCU becoming the highest-grossing franchise in film history. In 2008, she served as an Associate Producer Iron Man.
Having also served as an Associate Producer on Iron Man 2 (2010), bull (2011) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Alonso was promoted to the role of executive producer in 2012 The Avengers, the landmark film that grossed $1.5 billion and proved that the concept of a shared cinematic universe could really work. In subsequent MCU and Disney+ releases, the Argentine-born creator has served as an executive producer.
In 2021, Alonso was promoted to President of Physical Production, Post-Production, Visual Effects, and Animation at Marvel. Marvel Studios HBIC (Here’s in Charge) Kevin Feige and Co-Chair Louis D’Esposito said in a statement to THR on time. “She is one of the most dynamic, outspoken, and approachable CEOs in the industry, and we are delighted that she will continue to be by our side in this high-profile role as we lead Marvel Studios into the future.”
Victoria Alonso has played an important role in increasing LGBTQIA+ representation in the MCU
As one of the first Latina women to attain such a high-profile title in the film industry, Alonso has played a significant role in Marvel’s acting efforts, regularly bemoaning the lack of representation in the MCU.
Alonso told Tom Brooke of the BBC’s Talking Movies in 2018 that women in executive roles in Hollywood were still in the minority and she was constantly found to be either one of the few or the only women in the room. “It’s better to have a balance, when you have it 50/50, it creates a better room, for a better conversation, and I think it’s kind of a how-to story in a way it’s not if there’s just one of me,” she said.
The former Marvel producer spoke about queer representation in the MCU (in 2018), saying, “The gay community hasn’t been represented at all. I’m gay, so I can tell you I’m going to miss that.” Despite its efforts over the years, Marvel has failed many of its quirky characters by promising good acting in movies and then dropping scenes that emphasized the character’s sexuality (ie: Valkyrie, Okoye, and Ayo). With Alonso out, fans will have to wait and see the future of other queer characters that have been promised in the MCU (ie: Wiccan and America Chavez).
“We are determined to have everyone represented in our films in some way, at some point in time. […] I think every movie is a “team” [like The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy] That we have to have a very diverse staff, and that’s something we’re definitely working towards. “You can’t have that kind of success if the whole world doesn’t see your product.”
She was also vocal during Disney’s dispute with Florida over the “Don’t Say Like Me” bill. “As long as I’m at Marvel Studios, I’m going to fight for representation,” Alonso said.
