Movies Where LGBTQ+ Characters Were Added Last-Minute for Points

Hollywood studios often strive to modernize their blockbusters by including diverse characters and storylines that reflect the real world. This effort sometimes results in minor or background moments of representation that can be easily edited out for international markets or overlooked entirely by casual viewers. These inclusions frequently generate significant media buzz before release but offer little impact on the actual narrative or character development. The following films contain instances where LGBTQ+ representation felt like a footnote rather than a substantial commitment to storytelling.

‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)

The directors of this massive superhero conclusion promised the first openly gay character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The character appears in a single group therapy scene and is played by director Joe Russo. He briefly mentions going on a date with another man while discussing his grief following the events of the previous film. Many viewers felt the moment was too inconsequential to be celebrated as a major milestone for representation.

‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ (2019)

Director J.J. Abrams hinted at LGBTQ+ representation leading up to the release of the final film in the Skywalker saga. The resulting moment features Commander D’Acy sharing a brief kiss with a female resistance pilot during a celebration scene. This interaction occurs in the background while the main heroes embrace in the foreground. Critics noted that the blink-and-you-miss-it nature of the shot allowed it to be easily removed for censored markets.

‘Onward’ (2020)

Pixar introduced its first openly lesbian character in this fantasy adventure film through a cyclops police officer named Specter. She appears in one scene and casually mentions her girlfriend’s daughter while sympathizing with a driver she pulls over. The line is the only reference to her sexuality and has no bearing on the primary plot. Several countries banned the film or dubbed over the line despite the character having a very minor role.

‘Power Rangers’ (2017)

The Yellow Ranger named Trini was marketed as the first LGBTQ+ protagonist in a big-budget superhero movie. A campfire scene depicts another character asking Trini if she is having boyfriend or girlfriend troubles. Trini does not provide a definitive answer but the implication is treated as a confirmed character trait. The moment is fleeting and largely open to interpretation by the audience.

‘Star Trek Beyond’ (2016)

Hikaru Sulu is revealed to be gay in a short scene where he greets his husband and daughter at a space station. The scene contains no dialogue between the couple and simply shows them walking away together with their arms around each other. Original Sulu actor George Takei expressed disappointment because he felt it twisted the original vision of franchise creator Gene Roddenberry. The representation is silent and exists entirely in the background of the main action.

‘Jungle Cruise’ (2021)

The character McGregor Houghton has a heartfelt conversation with the protagonist where he discusses his inability to marry due to his interests lying elsewhere. He explains that his family and society turned their backs on him because of who he loves. McGregor never actually uses the word gay or specifies his romantic preferences explicitly during the monologue. Disney received criticism for once again dancing around the terminology while seeking credit for inclusion.

‘Cruella’ (2021)

A vintage shop owner named Artie is depicted as a flamboyant and fashion-forward ally to the titular character. The actor playing Artie confirmed in interviews that the character was intended to be queer. The film itself never explicitly confirms his sexuality through dialogue or romantic interest. His coding relies heavily on stereotypes regarding fashion and mannerisms rather than concrete narrative confirmation.

‘Lightyear’ (2022)

Space Ranger Alisha Hawthorne shares a kiss with her wife in a montage sequence that spans many years of her life. Disney executives reportedly cut the kiss initially but restored it following internal protests from employees. The scene is brief and serves to show the passage of time rather than focusing on the relationship dynamics. The controversy surrounding the scene garnered more attention than the plot of the film itself.

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ (2017)

Tessa Thompson plays the fierce warrior Valkyrie and stated that she played the character as bisexual. A scene showing a woman leaving Valkyrie’s bedroom was reportedly filmed but ultimately cut from the final theatrical release. The movie contains no on-screen evidence of her romantic preferences despite the off-screen confirmation. Viewers have to rely on interviews and press tours to know this detail about the character.

‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ (2018)

Screenwriter Jonathan Kasdan confirmed in interviews that Lando Calrissian is pansexual. The film depicts Lando having a close emotional bond with his droid companion L3-37 but never explores human romance. Donald Glover plays the character with charm and fluidity that implies openness without confirming anything specific. The representation remains entirely theoretical and outside the actual text of the movie.

‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’ (2022)

The film acknowledges the romantic past between Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald through a few lines of dialogue. Warner Bros edited these specific lines out of the film for release in China to secure a theatrical run. The ability to remove the references without altering the plot suggests the romance was not integral to the immediate story. Fans argued that a central relationship should have been too essential to cut.

‘Finding Dory’ (2016)

The trailer for ‘Finding Dory’ sparked rumors that a lesbian couple appeared briefly in a park scene. The film shows two women returning a sippy cup to a stroller for a split second. The director stated that the characters could be whatever the audience wanted them to be without confirming their relationship. It remains a background detail that requires pausing the film to even notice.

‘Toy Story 4’ (2019)

A small moment in the background of a kindergarten scene shows two women dropping off a child and hugging him. They reappear later in the film to pick the child up from school. The characters have no lines and are not named or acknowledged by the main cast. This inclusion follows the pattern of placing diverse couples in the periphery where they can be easily ignored.

‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ (2016)

Dr. Brakish Okun and Dr. Isaacs are revealed to be partners at the end of the film. The two men hold hands and Dr. Okun refers to the other man as his baby. This confirmation comes only after one of the characters has been killed during the alien attack. The relationship is treated as a retrospective reveal rather than an active part of the story.

‘Alien: Covenant’ (2017)

The characters Lope and Hallett are a married couple serving together on the colony ship. Their relationship is established through a quick dialogue exchange and a photo seen in the background. Both characters are killed off relatively quickly as the horror elements of the film take over. Their marriage adds a layer of tragedy but serves mostly as fodder for the alien creature.

‘Zootopia’ (2016)

Two male antelopes named Bucky and Pronk are depicted as loud neighbors who live together in an apartment next to the protagonist. They are credited with the shared surname Oryx-Antlerson in the closing credits. The film presents them as bickering roommates without explicitly confirming a romantic connection onscreen. Their relationship status was confirmed by the directors on social media after the release.

‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ (2014)

The blacksmith Gobber makes a passing comment about why he never got married. He states that one reason is an unspecified conflict and the other reason is that he simply does not like women. The line was an ad-lib by actor Craig Ferguson that the director decided to keep in the final cut. It is played largely for laughs and is the only reference to his sexuality in the franchise.

‘ParaNorman’ (2012)

The character Mitch is presented as a stereotypical jock whom the protagonist’s sister tries to court throughout the movie. Mitch casually mentions that his boyfriend loves chick flicks during the final scene of the film. This subversion of the jock trope is effective but relegates his identity to a punchline at the very end. The reveal serves as a twist rather than an explored part of his character arc.

‘Ghostbusters’ (2016)

The eccentric engineer Jillian Holtzmann was confirmed to be gay by director Paul Feig in interviews. The studio reportedly did not allow the filmmakers to make this explicit within the movie itself. Holtzmann flirts with women in a comedic manner throughout the film but never establishes a relationship. The representation is coded through her style and behavior rather than textual confirmation.

‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ (2018)

Paleoveterinarian Zia Rodriguez was originally written to have a line confirming she is a lesbian. The specific dialogue where she mentions not dating men was cut from the final theatrical version. The actress confirmed the intended backstory in interviews after the film was released. Remnants of this character trait are invisible in the final product.

‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ (2022)

The rock alien Korg mentions his dads and is later shown holding hands with another male of his species named Dwayne. This happens during a quick closing montage that wraps up the stories of various side characters. The moment is sweet but relegated to the very last minutes of the film. It serves as a footnote to the main romantic storylines involving the human gods.

‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ (2022)

America Chavez wears a pride pin on her jacket and mentions having two mothers in a brief flashback sequence. The scene showing her mothers is a memory that lasts only a few seconds before tragedy strikes. This inclusion caused the film to be banned in several Middle Eastern territories. The representation defines her backstory but her mothers do not have any dialogue in the present timeline.

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (2022)

Warriors Aneka and Ayo share a brief kiss on the forehead and lips at the end of the film. The moment confirms a romantic bond that was hinted at in the comic books. It happens during a chaotic final montage and is easy to miss if the viewer is not paying close attention. The relationship is not a focal point of the narrative and gets very little screen time.

‘Storks’ (2016)

A montage at the end of the film shows various families receiving babies delivered by the storks. The sequence includes fleeting shots of same-sex couples holding their new children. These shots pass by in a matter of seconds as part of a fast-paced musical sequence. The film includes no other LGBTQ+ characters or themes outside of this closing visual.

‘The Secret Life of Pets 2’ (2019)

A woman is shown saying goodbye to her dog and her female partner before leaving for work. The moment occurs during the opening credits montage depicting the morning routines of various pet owners. It is a background detail that establishes the setting without impacting the story. The characters never speak or appear again for the rest of the movie.

‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ (2019)

The character Dr. Rick Stanton acts as a comic relief scientist throughout the monster battles. The novelization of the film reveals that he has an ex-husband but this detail is absent from the screen. Viewers watching the movie would assume he is straight or asexual based on the lack of information. The representation exists solely in supplementary merchandise.

‘Saw 3D’ (2010)

A flashback sequence shows a man confronting his boyfriend about lying to the media. The boyfriend is then placed in a trap where he must save the protagonist. The character is introduced solely to be a victim of the film’s violence. His sexuality is a plot device to establish the stakes for the trap sequence.

‘Moonfall’ (2022)

A young character named Sonny mentions his husband during a conversation about evacuating to safety. The husband never appears on screen and is only referenced in dialogue. This line is the only indication of the character’s personal life amidst the disaster action. It serves as a quick attempt to add depth to a minor supporting role.

‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ (2022)

Detective Benoit Blanc is shown living with a man played by Hugh Grant. Grant answers the door for a brief cameo scene that implies a domestic partnership. The film does not explore their relationship or Blanc’s personal life beyond this gag. It confirms the detective’s sexuality while keeping it completely separate from the central mystery.

‘Fantasy Island’ (2020)

A guest named Elena arrives on the island with the fantasy of accepting a marriage proposal she previously rejected. It is eventually revealed that the proposal came from a woman rather than a man. The twist challenges the audience’s assumptions but relies on concealing her sexuality for the majority of the runtime. The reveal is treated as a mystery to be solved rather than an open trait.

‘Red Notice’ (2021)

The art thief known as The Bishop creates a momentary distraction by dipping and kissing a female guest at a masquerade ball. The move is tactical but implies a fluidity in her attraction. No other references to her romantic preferences are made throughout the action comedy. It stands as a singular stylistic choice rather than a character definition.

Please tell us which of these moments felt the most forced or genuine in the comments.