By Alvin Jocson
When one talks about Hollywood movies these days, the first thing people think of is Marvel, specifically the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It seemed like out of nowhere it has managed to become the biggest movie franchise of all time. The MCU not only relied on the popularity of its characters, but it also built a compelling storyline that interconnected all characters, making each movie a must-see event.
The strength of the MCU also relied on its diversity. It had something for everyone; Black Panther celebrated African heritage, Captain Marvel is a strong female character, and Peter Parker’s friend is a Filipino.
Speaking of Filipinos, many have appeared in various Marvel movies, giving us a sense of pride as we excitedly tell the person next to us, “Hey, that’s a Filipino like me!”
Who are these FilAms in the MCU? Let’s check them out.
- Dave Bautista
Also known as Batista, Bautista wears his Filipino background with pride. He played Drax in the Guardians of The Galaxy series. He was able to display his comedic chops and was one of the most well-loved characters there. This also made his transition from being a professional wrestler to Hollywood star a lot more smoother.
Despite all the success in playing Drax, Bautista admitted hating having to play Drax. “I hate it. I’m so embarrassed,” Bautista said in an interview with Tim Kash on The IMDB Show. What he really wants to do is drama, but so far he is not getting offers. He does point out that he loves taking part in the series, and is looking forward to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
“I like working with my castmates”, Bautista proclaims. “ I love them!”
- Jacob Batalon
Spiderman Homecoming featured a diverse cast and introduced us to perhaps the first Filipino character in the MCU: Jacob Batalon’s Ned Leeds. Even though there was nothing in the movie that would point out Ned Leed’s Filipino lineage, we do know that Batalon is a FilAm. We can therefore safely assume that the character is Filipino.
Batalan admits he cannot speak Filipino, having been born and raised in Hawaii by Filipino parents. He does understand Tagalog and Ilocano.
So how did he land the part?
Batalan was a student at the New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts when he thought of auditioning for an untitled Marvel movie. “It was like a self-tape then it was a screen test. The entire process took four months,” he recounted.
When it finally happened, it was so amazing!”
- Bobby Rubio
Bobby Rubio is not exactly the star, but he is the creator, producer, and the director of the Pixar animated movie Float. Float is the first ever Disner/Pixar movie to feature Filipino lead characters.
“It’s based on my own personal story, of my son. In the story, the father is dealing with a son that floats, which makes him different from other children.” Rubio told ABC News.
Aside from Float, Rubio also produced a comic book called Neighborhood Legend and it also featured Filipino superheroes.
Rising Filipino Stars in Marvel and Pixar
The representation of Filipinos in Hollywood has continued to grow. Actress Ginger Gonzaga, who is of Filipino descent, recently joined the MCU as Nikki Ramos in the Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022). Her witty and supportive character added more Filipino presence to the expanding Marvel universe.
Additionally, Elemental, a 2023 Pixar film, included the work of Filipino-American artists in its production, highlighting Pixar’s continued efforts toward inclusivity. Filipino creatives are making strides both in front of and behind the camera, enriching the storytelling landscape.
Bautista, Batalon, Rubio, and Gonzaga not only gave us a reason to watch Marvel and Pixar movies, but they also opened up opportunities to more Filipinos by showing the world that Filipinos are immensely talented.