In less than a month, a new superhero will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the much-awaited series Ms. Marvel. Kamala Khan makes her live-action debut, with Iman Vellani all set to portray the character on the small screen. Marvel Studios has released a new featurette that offers a sneak peek into the actor's journey to becoming the on-screen hero and some new footage from the upcoming Disney Plus series.
The video shared by Marvel Studios on its social media channels highlights Vellani's journey all the way from being selected to play the lead role in Ms. Marvel to being the fan-favorite teenage superhero. Kamala Khan made her first appearance in the Marvel Comics in 2013 as part of Captain Marvel's story and then went on to feature in a standalone series in 2014. Originally created by Sana Amanat, who is one of the executive producers on the series, Khan will be making her first live-action appearance as part of the upcoming series.
The featurette opens with the video conference call from 2020 that changed Vellani's life completely. Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige is heard telling her that she has been chosen to play Kamala Khan on Ms. Marvel in a “unanimous decision.” Her reaction to the news, and just being able to talk to Feige directly, is quite endearing. “Kevin Feige is on my phone right now, I can’t comprehend this right now,” she is heard saying as she takes the video call in what seems like her home’s backyard.
The video then goes on to include interviews with Vellani, in her Ms. Marvel costume, as she shares her excitement at being a part of the MCU, which happens to be one of Hollywood's biggest franchises. She also highlights some of the key traits of Khan, and how she goes from being an awkward teenage girl to a superhero. Major emphasis is placed on the fact that Khan is a “huge fan of Captain Marvel,” and the video showcases some new footage featuring Vellani as Khan.
The video also includes interviews with Executive producer and head writer Bisha K. Ali, who talks about the conflicts that Khan would have to face as part of the series. “Kamala's biggest conflict is with herself,” she says. Executive producer Amanat believes that Vellani is the perfect choice to portray Kamala Khan. Talking about the diversity in the series, and the fact that it introduces the first South Asian hero into the MCU, Amanat states that “it’s not about who you look like, or the clothes you wear… it’s about what you do with what you’ve been given.”
Ms. Marvel will begin streaming on Disney Plus on June 8, 2022.
Source: Marvel Entertainment/YouTube