By Pen Fang
Disney welcomes a new character, Kamala Khan, to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Hollywood newcomer, Iman Vellani, has been cast as the title character in Disney’s upcoming series Ms. Marvel. A Pakistani-American teenager from New Jersey, Kamala Khan is the MCU’s first Muslim superhero. According to Kevin Feige, she is slated to not only appear in Ms. Marvel, but also in future movies as well.
Not much is known about Vellani; her IMDB page is a blank slate. This is her first major production, though she was part of the Toronto International Film Festival’s (TIFF) Next Wave Committee in 2019.
A Letterboxd profile linked to Vellani shows her admiration for Brie Larson, similar to Kamala’s own reverence towards Captain Marvel. When asked who she would want to play her in a movie, she responded with, “Iron Man… duh.” It seems that she has many similarities with her in-universe character.
G. Willow Wilson, creator of Kamala Khan, posted on Twitter stating, “She [Vellani] is the real deal.” Other cast members have also been welcoming, with Kumail Nanjiani and Mark Ruffalo tweeting welcoming statements.
Vellani’s casting provides much-needed representation. The majority of the MCU’s heroes so far have been white and male. She provides a new voice and a new set of eyes to look through the world. She gives young girls like her a hero of their own to look up to.
