Chloe Bennet is the latest superhero who’s speaking out about diversity in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Despite being MCU’s first Asian superhero, she told Looper we still have a long ways to go.
“I mean, as long as we’re talking about it, the change isn’t necessarily complete, if you know what I mean. I think that right now, especially to people who aren’t Asian, there’s a trend of Asians in Hollywood. They’re like, “Oh, Asian movies work,” and that kind of thing,” she said after being asked about her character as Quake on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and the breakout hit, Crazy Rich Asians.
“But being Asian isn’t a trend to me. And what I loved about S.H.I.E.L.D is that they cast me because I was right for the role, and ultimately ended up writing to fit my ethnicity and my diversity, and made that a part of the character, and it only added richness to the character.”
Her comments come after Daredevil actor Peter Shinkoda accused Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb of asking the show’s writer’s not to write about Asian characters because the audience doesn’t care.
S.H.I.E.L.D comes to an end in just a few weeks with the series finales after seven seasons on television. Bennet doesn’t hide the fact she’s like to continue playing Quake if given the opportunity in either a TV spin off or a movie.
“I definitely would. I mean, I have such a soft spot for her. I started shooting the show when I was 20, and then I finished when I was 27. To get this time right now, in isolation, to kind of contemplate the past seven years and how much it’s meant to me — it hasn’t really hit me yet that the show is over, so it doesn’t really feel like I’m done playing her yet.”
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our new Instagram account. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff, or submitting a story.