Home Movie News Doctor Strange 2’s America Chavez Actor Reflects on Toxic MCU Fan Backlash

Fan backlash has become a constant part of any major franchise, and Xochitl Gomez recently recalled dealing with it on Doctor Strange 2.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures 

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced a powerful new superhero in the form of America Chavez, played by Marvel newcomer Xochitl Gomez. Unfortunately, while the actress’ debut was mostly met with praise, there was a certain amount of backlash against the movie from some fans online. But, of course, “toxic” fan comments are nothing new and seem to have become something of an expectation when it comes to any movie or TV show that incorporates elements of diversity and “woke” characters, and Multiverse of Madness was not exempt from this.

Xochitl recently discussed her Marvel debut with The Wrap, and as well as discussing her shared Marvel experience with Ms. Marvel’s Iman Vellani, she also touched on how in a way, that shared experience is what assured her that online backlash was not just something that she was going through. She said:

‘It was just nice to be able to have these shared experiences that made me feel like, OK, I’m not the only one. And especially with harassment and haters and stuff, and being able to be like, ‘OK, it’s not just me, this happens to you, it happens to a few other people as well.’ But it’s like, sometimes, when it’s in the moment, you forget, and it just becomes like this thing of like, ‘What is going on to me?’ And it’s just so much worse for brown people. Because there’s layers of racism, and it’s just, it’s tough. And so being able to talk to [Iman] and be like, ‘You’re not the only one,’ and being able to show my support, and being able to kind of take her out to dinner, and be able to take her mind off it, be able to like release it all. And then afterwards, being able to laugh and just be like, ‘Look at the conversation we just had!’ Look at that, we’re laughing, and it’s great.”

Related: Doctor Strange 2: What’s Next for America Chavez?

Will America Chavez Return In Future MCU Movies?

Marvel Studios

As the Multiverse Saga picks up speed in the coming years, it is hard to imagine that America Chavez will not have some part to play in the story somewhere. As one of the few people with a natural ability to open portals between universes, she could be an essential deus ex machina in the final battle against Kang the Conqueror.

Of course, there are plenty of movies and Disney+ TV shows where America could make her next appearance, with a Young Avengers project in consideration, Doctor Strange 3 possibly filling in a gap between the Phase 6 Avengers movies, and plenty of other multiverse-related releases to come.

It was revealed that at one point, the character’s debut was always planned to be in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but she was also expected to appear Spider-Man: No Way Home. Unfortunately, this plan had to change when Multiverse of Madness was delayed until after the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home, and both stories were altered to accommodate. While this meant America was cut entirely from the movie, it suggests that there is certainly an option for her to turn up in any multiverse-spanning project of the next three years.