As a long-time Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fan and someone who has grown up with these characters, I have to admit that the increasing amount of nudity in recent MCU films has taken me by surprise. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the boldness of directors pushing boundaries and challenging societal norms, but as someone who grew up watching Marvel movies with my family, the sudden inclusion of sex scenes and full-frontal nudity feels like a stark departure from the MCU I once knew.
The Marvel Cinetic Universe has mastered the art of creating entertaining and successful superhero films with a PG-13 rating for mass appeal under Disney. However, despite the family-friendly label, MCU movies have subtly pushed boundaries with occasional suggestive content. Although known for their relative modesty, these blockbusters feature some of the most desirable actors and actresses in the industry.
In simpler terms, it seems that extensive violence and intense fight scenes with large numbers of casualties are acceptable in family-friendly media. On the other hand, actual sexual content, such as two characters having sex, is less frequent. Instead, there are often scenes featuring nudity without any explicit sexual context. Even popular shows on Netflix like “Daredevil” and “Jessica Jones” have less nudity than you might recall, opting instead for more gore and strong language overtly sexual content.
Despite occasional nudity in MCU films, these moments have surprised many viewers. Here are some instances where the MCU pushed boundaries more than expected.
Erik Selvig in Thor: The Dark World
It’s surprising and amusing how, at the start of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, one could have anticipated that the franchise might feature nudity with some of its younger and more vibrant actors. Instead, it was Erik Selvig, portrayed by Stellan Skarsgård, who unexpectedly disrobed in “Thor: The Dark World.”
The Dark World,” there are reports of Selvig acting strangely at Stonehenge, where he is seen running around in nothing but his birthday suit and carrying scientific equipment. Although we see Selvig completely in the news broadcast, his private areas are pixelated to maintain a PG-13 rating in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In relation to Skarsgård, baring it all in public is a common occurrence for him. He jokingly shared with Page Six about his comfort level with nudity: “I’m used to being naked at home. When my classmates believed babies were brought by storks, I corrected them. I have a very casual approach towards my private parts.” This attitude extended to his role in “Dune,” as makeup artist Donald Mowat revealed to The Wrap that Skarsgård kept pushing for more nudity in the sci-fi production.
Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy trailer
In “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Chris Pratt as Star-Lord displays his well-toned physique in a scene without a shirt, showcasing the outcome of his rigorous fitness routine. Initially, there was also a planned shirtless scene featuring Zoe Saldaña as Gamora. This is indicated by a clip from the trailer that didn’t ultimately appear in the movie’s final cut.
In simpler terms, there’s a brief moment in the film where Gamora, without wearing a top, looks back over her shoulder. This scene occurred right after they escaped from prison, and Star-Lord nodded at her before she closed the door on him. Unfortunately, during the editing process, these shots were left out. Director James Gunn spoke about this sequence to Vulture, explaining that it was a challenging cut for him due to its context and the fact that it was set to “Livin’ Thing” by ELO, which is one of his favorite songs.
In the film “Guardians of the Galaxy,” despite the controversial cut scenes, the movie pushes boundaries compared to other Marvel Cinematic Universe productions. Adult viewers can identify additional elements such as Star-Lord’s unique alien romantic preferences and the Jackson Pollock reference. Had the deleted nude Gamora scene been more integral to the storyline, director James Gunn might have succeeded in keeping it.
Hulk in Thor: Ragnarok
In “Thor: Ragnarok,” Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk character strips down and exposes his butt, marking one of several groundbreaking nude scenes in the superhero genre. This scene represents the MCU’s growing acceptance of nudity beyond censored images in media and cut scenes. Moreover, it highlights the less compassionate facet of the Hulk, who has been estranged from his Avenger team for an extended period. His isolation has led him to embrace his own rules, even if that includes baring all in front of others.
Ragnarok” added to the film’s humor. As writer Eric Pearson shared with The Hollywood Reporter, this unexpected element was a major source of amusement for audiences. The movie is known for its surprising twists and comedic moments that keep viewers engaged.
Pearson acknowledged Thor (Chris Hemsworth) for coming up with the line, “That’s in my brain now.” The audience can only see Hulk’s behind during the scene, but based on what they’ve seen of Thor, they can imagine what the mysterious object might look like.
Sersi and Ikaris in Eternals
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), finding explicit sex scenes is as elusive as spotting nudity. While superheroes may exchange tender kisses with their lovers, overtly sexual encounters are scarce. For instance, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) has a brief romantic encounter in the first “Iron Man” film, but the scene ends before anything explicit happens. However, in “Eternals” released in 2021, Ikaris (Richard Madden) and Sersi (Gemma Chan) engage in an unmistakable lovemaking scene in a desert while both are naked, marking a departure from the MCU’s usual restraint.
Chloe Zhao, the film’s director, seized this chance to challenge conventions, expressing to Elle her belief that portraying human connections authentically and eliminating associated taboo is a significant achievement. Regrettably, “Eternals” as a whole failed to impress most critics and audiences. One scene in particular, the romantic encounter between Sersi and Ikaris, stood out as an awkward love scene among superhero movie fans due to its noticeable lack of emotional depth during this supposedly intimate moment.
I personally find it unsettling to engage in intimate moments on the beach. The sand just seems to get everywhere, making the experience less enjoyable for me.
Thor in Thor: Love and Thunder
The “Thor” films have been known for featuring the most nudity among characters. Reaching its peak, Thor himself will be shedding his clothes in “Thor: Love and Thunder.” Chris Hemsworth shared his thoughts on this revealing scene, jokingly commenting, “When I first played Thor, I took off my shirt and thought, ‘This will be fun, maybe in ten years, it’ll all come off.'”
In an unexpected turn of events at Omnipotence City, Thor and his companions are shocked when Zeus (Russell Crowe) publicly humiliates Thor by stripping him naked, leaving the gods witness to Thor’s bare bottom. Given the direction of this franchise, it seems inevitable that a “Thor” film will eventually feature full-frontal nudity. With the success of R-rated MCU movies like “Deadpool & Wolverine,” we might not have to wait long.
In numerous cases, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) uses a character’s nudity as comic relief. After all, who can resist finding humor in bare butts? Given that the MCU isn’t fading away any time soon, we can expect more instances of nudity in future productions.
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2024-07-23 15:30