Brie Larson has had a significant impact on the MCU and its fans. While she’s garnered praise for her portrayal of Captain Marvel and for providing representation for female audience members, some fans have gone out of their way to voice their sexist opinions about Larson and the character she plays. Unfortunately for them, Larson has one major ally on her side - Samuel L. Jackson.
Larson's Captain Marvel first appeared in the 2019 movie Captain Marvel, which acted as the character's origin story and introduction. Following Captain Marvel, Larson reprised the role in Avengers: Endgame and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. She will appear as Captain Marvel again in The Marvels, starring alongside Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani. As Larson returns to the MCU, the complaints and comments about her character will most likely resurface.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Jackson took the opportunity to discuss his thoughts on those who have lobbed criticism at Captain Marvel's Larson. When asked to discuss what it was like to watch Larson deal with sexist comments from fans following her entry into the MCU, Jackson said, "Brie's a stronger person than people give her credit for." Not holding anything back, he referred to the Marvel fans throwing sexist comments Larson's way as "incels," saying, "...she's not going to let any of that stuff destroy her...These incel dudes who hate strong women, of the fact that she's a feminist who has an opinion and expressed it? Everybody wants people to be who they want them to be. She is who she is, and she's genuinely that."
Jackson also discussed his friendship with the Captain Marvel star, which began on the set of Kong: Skull Island. "We had done Kong together, which was not the most wonderful experience for either of us," he said. "We became great friends during that particular experience because we were having such a hard time." Jackson noted how he offered to work on Larson's movie Unicorn Store, which follows an art school dropout who receives a mysterious letter offering her the chance to own a unicorn. Jackson plays The Salesman, the man behind the mysterious letter who instructs Larson's character on what she must do to receive the unicorn.
It sounds like no matter what the darker side of the MCU fanbase throws at Larson, Jackson believes she can handle it. That said, Larson will likely be a permanent fixture of the current MCU phase and possibly those to come. Whether they like it or not, fans with personal problems with Larson, her views, and her portrayal of Captain Marvel will probably see plenty of Larson in the future.
The Marvels hits theaters on November 10, 2023.
Source: Rolling Stone