Marvel fans are having an absolute moment right now, and it’s all thanks to Joe Locke‘s impeccable timing and even better sense of humor.
The Heartstopper star just posted a video to TikTok that has the internet in stitches – and it’s all about the very specific situation of finding out the guy you’ve been making out with at work every night is about to become your on-screen twin brother.
Yes, you read that right.
Marvel’s Double Dose of Queer Representation (And Eye Candy)
At New York Comic Con on October 11, Marvel officially confirmed what fans had been speculating about for months: 25-year-old Scottish actor Ruaridh Mollica will be playing Tommy Maximoff – aka Speed – in the upcoming Disney+ series VisionQuest.
Tommy is the twin brother of Joe’s character Billy Maximoff (also known as Wiccan), who made his spectacular debut in Agatha All Along earlier this year.
And if you haven’t seen Ruaridh yet, let us just say that Marvel clearly has excellent taste in their casting department. The Italian-Scottish actor brings that perfect combination of brooding intensity and boyish charm that has us already preparing to update our lock screens.
But here’s what makes this casting particularly special: both Joe and Ruaridh are openly queer.
Joe, who came out as gay at age 12, has become a global queer icon thanks to his role in Heartstopper – and let’s be honest, those big expressive eyes and that megawatt smile haven’t hurt his popularity either. The 22-year-old has been serving looks on red carpets and melting hearts on screen for years now.
Ruaridh identifies as queer (he prefers that term over bisexual) and earned a BAFTA Scotland nomination for his raw, vulnerable performance in the 2024 film Sebastian.
With his tousled hair, piercing gaze, and the kind of cheekbones that could cut glass, he’s about to become everyone’s new Marvel crush.
Having two out queer actors playing these superhero twins? That’s the kind of representation we love to see. Having two gorgeous out queer actors? Well, that’s just Marvel showing off.
From Stage Lovers to Superhero Siblings
The chemistry between Joe and Ruaridh was already there before Marvel came calling. The two are currently starring together in Clarkston, Samuel D. Hunter‘s emotionally intimate play about two young men – Jake (Joe) and Chris (Ruaridh) – who meet while working the night shift at a Costco in rural America.
As their bond deepens, so does their sense of adventure and, yes, romance. And if you’ve seen any photos from the production, you know these two have the kind of stage chemistry that makes you forget you’re in a theater.
The play runs through November 22 at the Trafalgar Theatre, and critics have been raving about how “enchanting” the pair are together. Night after night, they’re bringing this tender love story to life, complete with all the longing glances and intimate moments that come with it.
So basically, Joe and Ruaridh have been perfecting their on-stage connection – the kind where they’ve clearly gotten very comfortable with each other – and now they have to pretend they’re related instead.
Talk about a career pivot.
The Video That Broke Marvel Twitter
Which brings us to Joe’s absolutely perfect response to this slightly awkward situation.
Joe shared a now-viral video featuring himself and Ruaridh with the caption: “When you find out the guy you’ve been kissing at work every day is actually your twin brother…”
@joelocke03 Anyway come watch us in clarkston @ruaridhmollica @Clarkston
The post was quickly reshared around social media, and is getting hundreds of thousands of views.
The comments section is exactly what you’d expect: a mix of people dying laughing, people pointing out how great they both look, and people very seriously suggesting that maybe Marvel should reconsider the whole “brothers” thing.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect – or more hilariously awkward. Although, let’s be real: if anyone can handle the transition from romantic leads to superhero siblings with grace and humor, it’s these two.
Who Is Ruaridh Mollica? (Your New Marvel Obsession)
If you’re not familiar with Ruaridh (pronounced “Rur-ee”), allow us to introduce you to Marvel’s newest rising star – and trust us, you’re going to want to follow him on Instagram immediately.
The 25-year-old has been making waves in the indie film world with his breakout role in Sebastian, where he played Max, a young novelist who moonlights as a sex worker to gather material for his book. The film premiered at Sundance in January 2024 to rave reviews, with critics praising Ruaridh’s “luminous” performance.
And yes, the film features quite a bit of Ruaridh showcasing that well-maintained physique he’s been working on. The boy clearly takes care of himself, and we respect the dedication.
Ruaridh has been incredibly open about how the role helped him embrace his queerness more fully. “It was only when I moved to London and had the ability to be myself that I realized, ‘Oh actually, no, I like men as well,'” he told Queerty in early 2024.
He’s also earned his computer science degree from Heriot-Watt University (brains AND looks – we see you, Ruaridh), been named a Screen International Rising Star Scotland 2024, and appeared in shows like The Franchise and Red Rose.
Fun fact: He was born in Italy to a Scottish mother and Italian father, which explains those Mediterranean good looks combined with that Scottish charm. The genetic lottery was clearly feeling generous.
And now? He’s joining the MCU as Speed, a superhero with super-speed abilities similar to his uncle Quicksilver. Which means we’ll presumably get to see him in action sequences, possibly shirtless, moving very fast.
Marvel really said “let’s give the gays everything they want.”
Joe Locke: From Heartstopper Heartthrob to Marvel Hero
Of course, Joe needs no introduction at this point. The Isle of Man native became an overnight sensation when Heartstopper premiered on Netflix, playing the adorable Charlie Spring opposite Kit Connor‘s Nick Nelson.
With those puppy dog eyes, that infectious smile, and the kind of natural charisma that makes you want to protect him while also wanting him to step on you (in the nicest way possible), Joe quickly became Gen Z’s favorite queer icon.
He’s since made his Broadway debut in Sweeney Todd and absolutely killed it as the mysterious “Teen” in Agatha All Along – a role that showed off his range as an actor and proved he could handle darker, more complex characters.
Joe’s been open about the pressure of being a young queer actor in the spotlight, but he’s handled it with remarkable grace and humor. And based on this latest TikTok? His sense of humor is fully intact.
The fact that he’s now getting to play a superhero – and a canonically queer one at that – feels like the perfect next step for someone who’s already meant so much to young LGBTQ+ fans around the world.
Plus, have you seen him in those fitted Marvel costumes from Agatha All Along? The boy cleans up very nicely.
The Maximoff Family Reunion We Deserve
VisionQuest is shaping up to be the emotional culmination of the WandaVision trilogy, which also includes the recent hit Agatha All Along.
The series will follow Paul Bettany‘s White Vision as he attempts to reconnect with his memories and figure out his identity. Along the way, he’ll come face-to-face with his sons – Billy and Tommy – who were created by Wanda in her grief but have now been reincarnated into new bodies.
In Agatha All Along, we saw Billy (Joe) discover his powers and, in the final episode, help locate his missing brother Tommy’s soul and place it into the body of a drowning teenager. VisionQuest will presumably pick up that thread and show us Tommy fully embracing his Speed persona.
Elizabeth Olsen is also expected to appear as Wanda, which means we could finally get that full Maximoff family reunion we’ve been waiting for since WandaVision ended in 2021.
And look, we’re very excited about the emotional family drama and all that. But we’re also very excited to see Joe and Ruaridh share the screen together, even if they have to keep their hands to themselves this time.
The Young Avengers Are Coming (And They’re Hot)
Both Billy and Tommy are key members of the Young Avengers in the comics, and Marvel has been slowly assembling that team across Phase 4 and 5 of the MCU.
In the comics, Tommy/Speed is bisexual, while Billy/Wiccan is gay and often depicted dating Hulkling. With two openly queer actors now playing these roles, the MCU is finally delivering the authentic LGBTQ+ representation fans have been demanding for years.
And can we just say? The Young Avengers roster is shaping up to be absolutely stacked in the looks department. Between Joe, the possibility of Kit Connor as Hulkling (manifesting), Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, and now Ruaridh as Speed, this is going to be the most attractive superhero team since the original Avengers.
Marvel clearly understood the assignment.
What’s Next
VisionQuest is currently still filming and is set to premiere on Disney+ in 2026. The series will also feature James Spader returning as Ultron (in human form, naturally), along with several other AI characters from the MCU appearing in humanoid bodies.
As for Joe and Ruaridh? They’ll finish their run in Clarkston on November 22, presumably giving them plenty of time to transition from stage romance to superhero sibling dynamics.
If you’re in London before then, tickets are still available for Clarkston at the Trafalgar Theatre – and based on everything we’ve heard, it’s absolutely worth seeing these two work their magic together on stage while you still can.
We can’t wait to see these two bring the Maximoff twins to life. And based on Joe’s hilarious video, they’re clearly not taking themselves too seriously along the way – which honestly just makes us love them even more.
Trust us, you’re going to want to keep these two on your radar. Marvel just gave us two more reasons to be very, very excited about Phase 5.