Deadpool 2 finally brings queer superheroes to the big screen with same-sex romance

Deadpool 2 is finally here – and reports of a same-sex romance in the film were true.

The film, released on Tuesday, brings back Ryan Reynolds as everyone’s favourite dirty-talking, R-rated superhero.

Brianna Hildebrand makes a comeback as moody teenage mutant Negasonic Teenage Warhead, but this time she’s very much not alone.

Early in the film, the X-Men character introduces her new girlfriend – the badass mutant Yukio (Shioli Kutsuna).

Yukio and Negasonic

Without getting too spoilery, the pair hold hands on-screen and explicitly confirm that they are dating, and Deadpool himself remarks that they’re a cute couple.

The pair don’t have the most prominent role in the plot, but their existence has earned the film praise.

The inclusion marks an incredible accomplishment for the film and the superhero genre.

Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe, meanwhile, has thus far failed to portray a single explicitly LGBT character across any of its 19 big-screen releases.

Negasonic

It is likely that Deadpool, which is already banned in many overseas conservative markets due to its violent and sexual content, had less reason to worry about abiding by international censorship standards.

Reynolds previously confirmed as much, saying of his own character’s sexuality: “That’s not really a problem for us, because we were banned in China. We were rated ‘f**k you!’ in China.