Disney has chosen unknown Imon Vellani to play Ms. Marvel, the company’s first Muslin superhero to get her own comic, in an upcoming Disney+ series.
Disney is going all-in on its slate of Marvel shows. WandaVision comes out later this year, we just learned that Orphan Black star Tatiana Maslany will play the title role in She-Hulk, and Samuel L. Jackson will be playing Nick Fury in another new show.
Today, the good times keep rolling, with Deadline reporting that Imon Vellani will play Ms. Marvel in an upcoming Disney+ show of the same name.
Ms. Marvel is the superhero name for Kamala Khan, a Pakistani American from Jersey City who grows up idolizing Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel. Making her first appearance in 2013, Kamala is the first Muslim superhero to ever get their own Marvel comic book, and clearly, the company has big plans for her. In addition to the Disney+ show, MCU boss Kevin Feige has said that she’ll make appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe proper. Plus, she’s the point of entry for the new Avengers video game out now on the PlayStation 4 and XBox One, among other platforms.
Superpower-wise, Kamala is a polymorph, meaning she can change shape and lengthen her arms and legs, like Mr. Fantastic from the Fantastic Four. Could make for some fun special effects.
As for Vellani herself, she’s mostly an unknown in Hollywood. But then again, Disney is casting a teenage hero here, so whoever they chose wasn’t going to have a ton of experience. Disney always planned to find the right actor to play the role even if she wasn’t widely known, which I think is the right call.
There’s no word on when Ms. Marvel may drop on Disney+, but considering how many of these shows are moving forward, we’ll be getting a whole bunch at once in a year or two.
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