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VisionQuest star Ruaridh Mollica has revealed that he wants Marvel to explore the bisexuality of Tommy Maximoff, better known as Speed. And with the MCU’s Young Avengers finally looking a little closer to reality, could we be getting more queer superheroes? Darling, we’re ready.
Marvel, sweetheart, we need to talk.
After years of teasing the arrival of the Young Avengers, introducing new superheroes and scattering them across approximately seventeen different television series, the Marvel Cinematic Universe might finally be preparing to bring its younger generation together.
And one of its newest stars has a rather fabulous idea about what should happen next.
Ruaridh Mollica, the bisexual Scottish actor who plays Tommy Maximoff in Disney+’s VisionQuest, has expressed his enthusiasm for exploring his character’s sexuality in future Marvel projects.
Speaking in a Radio Times interview published on 11 November, Mollica discussed the significance of portraying a bisexual comic-book character and his hopes that the MCU will eventually develop that side of Tommy’s identity.
And honestly, considering how much LGBTQ+ history Marvel has to work with, it would be rather lovely if we didn’t have to spend another decade waiting.
Spoiler warning: this article discusses developments from the VisionQuest finale.
Ruaridh Mollica on Playing a Bisexual Marvel Superhero
Mollica plays Tommy Shepherd, the reincarnated son of Wanda Maximoff and Vision, whose extraordinary speed gives him the superhero name Speed.
In Marvel Comics, Tommy is bisexual and has been romantically involved with fellow Young Avenger David Alleyne, better known as Prodigy.
That relationship is already part of the character’s established history, rather than something invented by fans hoping for a little extra queer representation.
Mollica explained that he knew about Tommy’s bisexuality while auditioning and was pleased that Marvel had selected a bisexual actor for the role.
For him, the casting offered an opportunity to bring aspects of his own identity and experiences to a character whose sexuality is also part of his comic-book background.
The actor also expressed interest in exploring Tommy’s future relationships, including those from the comics.
However, that remains a personal hope rather than an officially announced Marvel storyline.
There is currently no confirmation that Prodigy will appear in the MCU or that Tommy’s bisexuality will become the focus of a future project.
Still, the possibility is intriguing.
And considering that Marvel already has the relevant source material, the writers certainly wouldn’t have to look very far for inspiration.
Speed and Prodigy: The Bisexual Love Story Marvel Could Explore
For viewers unfamiliar with the comics, Tommy Shepherd’s romantic history is rather more interesting than his ability to run exceptionally fast.
His relationship with David Alleyne developed through their time as members of the Young Avengers.
David, a mutant with the ability to absorb knowledge and skills from people around him, became romantically involved with Tommy after the two had already established a close connection.
Their relationship offered an example of bisexual representation within a superhero universe that had historically focused predominantly on heterosexual romances.
As Marvel’s official character history of Prodigy explains, their relationship became part of the wider Young Avengers story.
And there is something particularly refreshing about allowing a bisexual male superhero to have a romantic life without treating his sexuality as a shocking revelation.
Bisexual men remain underrepresented in mainstream entertainment, particularly when their relationships involve other men.
Too often, bisexual characters are presented as confused, indecisive or simply waiting to settle into a supposedly more conventional identity.
That representation can reinforce the misconception that bisexuality is only legitimate when it fits someone else’s expectations.
Tommy’s established comic-book identity offers an opportunity to challenge those assumptions.
Whether Marvel chooses to take advantage of it remains to be seen.
VisionQuest Finally Reunites Tommy and Billy Maximoff
The possibility of future Young Avengers stories has become especially exciting following the VisionQuest finale.
After years of separation, Tommy finally reunites with his twin brother Billy Maximoff, played by Joe Locke.
Billy, better known as Wiccan, has already become one of the MCU’s most recognisable young queer characters following his appearance in Agatha All Along.
The emotional reunion between the brothers was one of the finale’s most significant moments, reconnecting characters whose story began in WandaVision.
In a separate interview with the Los Angeles Times, Mollica and Locke discussed filming the scene and the personal connection they developed while preparing to play siblings.
The two actors also reflected on the significance of being queer performers portraying queer characters within such a globally recognised franchise.
And for LGBTQ+ audiences, that represents something genuinely worth celebrating.
Two young superheroes, both queer in their comic-book identities, sharing one of Marvel’s most emotionally important family relationships.
Not simply appearing as background characters or delivering a single line designed to generate headlines.
But occupying a meaningful place within the central story.
Will Marvel Finally Give Us the Young Avengers?
The MCU has been laying the groundwork for the Young Avengers for several years.
Characters including Kate Bishop, Kamala Khan, Cassie Lang, Billy Maximoff and Tommy Shepherd have already appeared across different films and television series.
Yet Marvel has not formally confirmed a dedicated Young Avengers film or series.
Mollica has expressed considerable enthusiasm about returning to the character, although he acknowledges that he has no control over when or whether Marvel brings the team together.
And yes, the actor has joked about the fact that he isn’t getting any younger.
Which seems entirely reasonable.
At this rate, the Young Avengers might need to start comparing mortgage rates before Marvel finally organises their first official meeting.
Nevertheless, the ending of VisionQuest opens several possibilities for the characters’ future.
Marvel could bring them together in a dedicated project, introduce them through another established franchise or continue developing their stories individually.
At present, those possibilities remain speculation.
Why Bisexual Representation in Marvel Still Matters
Superhero stories have always been about people trying to understand who they are.
Characters discover extraordinary abilities, struggle with expectations, make mistakes and search for a place where they belong.
Those themes have obvious parallels with LGBTQ+ experiences, particularly the pressure to conceal aspects of identity out of fear of rejection.
But queer representation should not be limited to metaphor.
If comic-book characters are explicitly bisexual, gay or otherwise LGBTQ+, there is no reason their screen adaptations cannot explore those identities with the same care given to heterosexual relationships.
That does not mean every superhero storyline needs to revolve around sexuality.
Tommy can save the world, argue with his brother, discover the limits of his powers and occasionally develop a spectacularly inconvenient crush.
We contain multitudes, darling.
As TGM explored in our article about LGBTQ+ visibility and the BBC’s removal of Pride badges, the question of whether queer identity is allowed to remain visible continues to generate debate across British entertainment.
Marvel has an opportunity to approach representation differently by making it a natural part of its characters’ lives.
And with performers like Mollica and Locke involved, it already has actors who understand why that matters.
The Future Looks Rather Queer for Marvel
For now, VisionQuest is available to stream on Disney+, and Tommy Maximoff’s future remains unconfirmed.
Mollica has made his enthusiasm clear. He wants to return, he wants to see the Young Avengers develop, and he would welcome the opportunity to explore more of Tommy’s bisexual identity.
Whether Marvel shares that ambition will become clearer as its future projects take shape.
But after years of seeing LGBTQ+ representation treated as a minor detail, it would be refreshing to watch a major superhero franchise embrace the complexity of its queer characters.
Tommy Shepherd already has speed, attitude, family drama and a romantic history worth exploring.
Surely the MCU can make room for all four.
Come on, Marvel. You’ve given us alternate universes, talking raccoons and an entire multiverse. A bisexual superhero with a proper love life really shouldn’t be that complicated.
