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All Marvel Cinematic Universe Movies Ranked

Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 Marvel.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown into one of the biggest and most beloved movie franchises in Hollywood history!

With ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘, which welcomes “Marvel’s First Family” to the MCU, opening in theaters on July 25th, Moviefone has ranked every Marvel Cinematic Universe movie ever made, including the latest!

Note: We are only including MCU movies, not the MCU Disney+ series and mini-series.

However, we are including the Disney+ “Special Presentations,” including ‘Werewolf by Night‘ and ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.’

Let’s begin!

39. ‘Eternals‘ (2021)

(L to R) Don Lee, Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan, and Lia McHugh in Marvel Studios’ ‘Eternals.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.

The Eternals are a team of ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. When an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows, they are forced to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy, the Deviants.
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38. ‘Thor: The Dark World‘ (2013)

Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos… but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.
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37. ‘Thor‘ (2011)

Against his father Odin’s (Anthony Hopkins) will, The Mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) – a powerful but arrogant warrior god – recklessly reignites an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.
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36. ‘Iron Man 2‘ (2010)

With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, must forge new alliances – and confront powerful enemies.
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35. ‘The Incredible Hulk‘ (2008)

Edward Norton in ‘The Incredible Hulk.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.

Scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) scours the planet for an antidote to the unbridled force of rage within him: the Hulk. But when the military masterminds who dream of exploiting his powers force him back to civilization, he finds himself coming face to face with a new, deadly foe.
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34. ‘Thor: Love and Thunder‘ (2022)

After his retirement is interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods, Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth) enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg, and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who now wields Mjolnir as the Mighty Thor. Together they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.
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33. ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania‘ (2023)

Super-Hero partners Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), along with with Hope’s parents Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) , and Scott’s daughter Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), find themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought possible and pits them against Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors).
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32. ‘Doctor Strange‘ (2016)

After his career is destroyed, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon (Benedict Cumberbatch) gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under her wing and trains him to defend the world against evil.
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31. ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron‘ (2015)

When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron (James Spader) emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.
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30. ‘The Marvels‘ (2023)

(L to R) Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), aka Captain Marvel, has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Together, this unlikely trio must team up and learn to work in concert to save the universe.
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29. ‘Ant-Man‘ (2015)

Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Doctor Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
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28. ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming‘ (2017)

Following the events of ‘Captain America: Civil War’, Peter Parker (Tom Holland), with the help of his mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), tries to balance his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens, New York City, with fighting crime as his superhero alter ego Spider-Man as a new threat, the Vulture (Michael Keaton), emerges.
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27. ‘Iron Man 3‘ (2010)

When Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
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26. ‘Captain America: The First Avenger‘ (2011)

During World War II, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is a sickly man from Brooklyn who’s transformed into super-soldier Captain America to aid in the war effort. Rogers must stop the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) – Adolf Hitler’s ruthless head of weaponry, and the leader of an organization that intends to use a mysterious device of untold powers for world domination.
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25. ‘Black Widow‘ (2021)

Scarlett Johansson in Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Widow.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.
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24. ‘Captain Marvel‘ (2019)

The story follows Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Set in the 1990s, Captain Marvel is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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23. ‘Werewolf by Night‘ (2022)

On a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader. In a strange and macabre memorial to the leader’s life, the attendees are thrust into a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic—a hunt that will ultimately bring them face to face with a dangerous monster.
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22. ‘Iron Man‘ (2008)

After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.
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21. ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (2022)

Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.
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20. ‘Captain America: Brave New World‘ (2025)

Red Hulk/President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) in Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World’. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 Marvel.

After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam (Anthony Mackie) finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.
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19. ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp‘ (2018)

Just when his time under house arrest is about to end, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) once again puts his freedom at risk to help Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) dive into the quantum realm and try to accomplish, against time and any chance of success, a very dangerous rescue mission.
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18. ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home‘ (2019)

Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and his friends go on a summer trip to Europe. However, they will hardly be able to rest – Peter will have to agree to help Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) uncover the mystery of creatures that cause natural disasters and destruction throughout the continent.
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17. ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings‘ (2021)

Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization and his father, Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung).
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16. ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special’ (2022)

On a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), the Guardians head to Earth in search of the perfect present. The special follows Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) as they set out to give Quill the best Christmas ever, after discovering that Yondu (Michael Rooker) ruined the holiday for him as a child.
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15. ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ (2022)

(L to R) Charlize Theron and Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.

Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary.
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14. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3‘ (2023)

Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
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13. ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2‘ (2017)

The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) true parentage.
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12. ‘The Avengers‘ (2012)

When an unexpected enemy emerges and threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins!
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11. ‘Captain America: Civil War‘ (2016)

Following the events of ‘Age of Ultron’, the collective governments of the world pass an act designed to regulate all superhuman activity. This polarizes opinion amongst the Avengers, causing two factions to side with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) or Captain America (Chris Evans), which causes an epic battle between former allies.
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10. ‘Thunderbolts*’ (2025)

(L to R) Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), and Red Guardian/Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour) in Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 Marvel.

After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, seven disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.
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9. ‘Black Panther‘ (2018)

King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne by factions within his own country as well as without. Using powers reserved to Wakandan kings, T’Challa assumes the Black Panther mantle to join with ex-girlfriend Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), the queen-mother, his princess-kid sister, members of the Dora Milaje (the Wakandan ‘special forces’) and an American secret agent, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.
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8. ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier‘ (2014)

After the cataclysmic events in New York with ‘The Avengers’, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), aka Captain America is living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon (Anthony Mackie). However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier.
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7. ‘Thor Ragnarok‘ (2017)

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok, the destruction of his home-world and the end of Asgardian civilization, at the hands of a powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett).
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6. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘ (2014)

Light years from Earth, 26 years after being abducted, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the prime target of a manhunt after discovering an orb wanted by Ronan the Accuser.
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5. ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ (2025)

(L to R) Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 Marvel.

Against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel’s First Family is forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, while defending Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).
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4. ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘ (2018)

As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos (Josh Brolin). A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.
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3. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine‘ (2024)

Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ delivers the ultimate, iconic, cinematic team-up throw-down on July 26.
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2. ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home‘ (2021)

Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a super-hero. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man. Teaming with other Multiverse Spider-Men (Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield), they must now work together to take out the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Foxx) and other Spider-Man villains from around the multiverse.
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1. ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ (2019)

Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.

After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos (Josh Brolin). With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.
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If you are a big Marvel fan, and you want to have a movie marathon, here is how you can watch the Marvel movies in chronological order.

August 2, 2025
‘The Marvels’ Crashes at the Box Office
(L to R) Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

Preview:
- ‘The Marvels’ opened to $47 million at the domestic box office.
- Globally, the movie has made just $88 million.
- The movie stars Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani.
The movie’s tagline read, “Higher. Further. Faster. Together.”, but the box office results for ‘The Marvels’ has sadly proved to be more “Lower. Slower. Alone.” It’s true: the latest release from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, once considered a license to print money, has cratered at the domestic and international box office.

‘The Marvels’, the sequel to 2019’s ‘Captain Marvel’ (which soared to $1.13 billion in total from its own worldwide release), has failed to capture the imaginations of audiences, and earned just $47 million domestically, with $88.5 million worldwide.
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What’s the Story of ‘The Marvels’?

(L to R) Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

‘The Marvels’, directed by ‘Candyman’s Nia DaCosta, picks up the story of Carol Danvers, AKA Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) as she’s forced to face the consequences of her actions destroying the Supreme Intelligence of the Kree race.

A vengeful Kree leader, Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) has discovered a powerful weapon in her crusade to strike back against both Carol and the Kree’s ancient rivals, the Skrulls.

And the use of the weapon, plus some malfunctioning space transport portals is also affecting the powers of Carol, Monica Rambeau (who knew her as a child and who we met as an adult in ‘WandaVision’, played by Teyonah Parris) and Kamala Khan , AKA Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), causing them to trade places whenever they employ their abilities.

The result is a chaotic chase through space to stop Dar-Benn’s plan to wreak havoc on the Skrulls and humanity, one that also ropes in both Kamala’s family and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).

‘The Marvels’: What Happened at the Box Office?

Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

Critics are already pointing to a slightly confusing storyline, a need to have some knowledge of previous Marvels shows and movies to understand all the characters’ motivations (a common complaint with the MCU’s output) and a general feeling of superhero fatigue –– which has affected fellow superhero studio DC and others in the genre of late.

There’s also a disappointing notion that despite the movie being a fun, funny adventure, some sections of the audience were turned off by a film in the genre directed by a woman and starring three women.

Finally, the SAG-AFTRA strike meant that the stars couldn’t promote the movie until the night of release, all of which didn’t help its fate.

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘The Marvels’

What’s next for Marvel?

(L to R) Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in ‘Deadpool 3.’ Photo courtesy of Ryan Reynolds Instagram account.

A bad box office result is by no means the end of the MCU –– after all, Marvel titles have had issues before (the likes of the ‘Ant-Man’ series, for one have rarely big giant cinematic hits). But it will almost certainly mean a reconsideration of strategy and ideas moving forward, as has been seen with the company’s small screen output.

There is no doubt that Disney and Marvel will be pinning their hopes on ‘Deadpool 3’ (which will mark the full formal entry of Ryan Reynolds’ chatty character into the MCU) next year to deliver, and 2025 is now bringing ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ and ‘Thunderbolts’.

Yet it’s certainly not a good time for the box office behemoth.

Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels’ opens in theaters on July 28, 2023.

Other Movies Similar to ‘The Marvels:’
- ‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘ (2014)
- ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2‘ (2017)
- ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘ (2018)
- ‘Captain Marvel‘ (2019)
- ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ (2019)
- ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special‘ (2022)
- ‘Thor: Love and Thunder‘ (2022)
- ‘The Making of Ms. Marvel‘ (2022)
Buy Tickets: ‘The Marvels’ Movie Showtimes

Buy ‘Captain Marvel’ On Amazon
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November 13, 2023
Movie Review: ‘The Marvels’
(L to R) Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

Opening in theaters on November 10th is the MCU’s 33rd feature film, ‘The Marvels,’ starring Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani.

Initial Thoughts

Long-delayed and awaited with trepidation by MCU fans, ‘The Marvels’ is far from the strongest entry in the franchise’s 33-film library. But it’s not unwatchably bad as rumored, either. There is some crisp action and moments that are inarguably funny and sweet, while other sequences will make one cringe and wonder who thought they were a good idea. Yet it does benefit from some solid performances, especially Iman Vellani in her big screen debut as Ms. Marvel – except that many more casual viewers may not even know who she is.

Story and Direction

Director Nia DaCosta on the set of Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

As ‘The Marvels’ opens, we are barraged with a bunch of material designed to catch us up, including a more or less complete recap of 2019’s ‘Captain Marvel.’ In addition to it being more than four years since that movie came out, ‘The Marvels’ tries to introduce us to two characters we’ve never seen on the big screen before: Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) and the grown-up version of Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Both made their debuts via Marvel shows on Disney+ — ‘Ms. Marvel’ and ‘WandaVision’ respectively (Monica was a little girl in ‘Captain Marvel’) – and it’s a heavy lift to bank so much of this movie on audiences knowing who they are.

That’s because the emotional core of ‘The Marvels’ is supposed to be the relationship between these three superheroes, and while our three leads do share some excellent chemistry, it’s hard to feel emotionally invested in the way they come together, since we barely know two of them unless we’ve been tuning into their shows. The plot doesn’t offer them much room to develop either, especially Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel.

Instability in the space-time continuum – caused by the film’s villain, the Kree revolutionary Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), punching portals in said continuum – leads Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Ms. Marvel, and Monica to all begin switching places with each other every time they use their light-based powers, thanks to “quantum entanglement” (where’s Hank Pym when you need him?). Tracing the problem back to Dar-Benn with the help of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and his space-based S.A.B.E.R. squad, the three women learn that Dar-Benn is channeling her power through an ancient armband – the companion to a similar artifact around Kamala’s forearm.

Zawe Ashton as Dar-Benn in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

Fueled by a hatred for Captain Marvel that’s rooted in the latter’s past, Dar-Benn hatches a plan that will allow her to take her revenge while also restoring vitality to her depleted Kree home world of Hala – unless the Marvels can stop her.

There have been numerous reports of trouble behind the scenes on ‘The Marvels,’ and watching the film does give one the sensation of watching a product that was patched together as best as possible and finally just let out into the world. It’s not bad exactly: it moves relatively quickly – almost too fast at points – and some of its best moments have a sense of fun that’s been lacking in some more ponderous MCU efforts. The title trio also have their moments, with Iman Vellani – who made such a sparkling screen debut on ‘Ms. Marvel’ – a standout and finding her footing after some early unsteadiness.

But the plot seems murky and half-formulated at times, with people and places coming and going and narrative threads either dropped abruptly or just fading away, victims of the surgery that may have whipped this into presentable form. There are also sequences that just don’t work, most notably a sojourn to a planet where all communication is done via song, an ill-conceived stab at a mini-musical that is just embarrassing.

With the exception of some in-your-face action scenes (including a climactic battle between the Marvels and the villain that does not, for once, involve massive objects falling out of the sky onto buildings), Nia DaCosta’s direction of ‘The Marvels’ feels anonymous, lacking the mood of her previous films ‘Little Woods’ and ‘Candyman.’ Again, it’s mostly the camaraderie of the three leads that makes individual scenes work and keeps ‘The Marvels’ entertaining despite its deep flaws.

The Title Trio’s Performances

(Left) Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 Marvel. (Center) Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel. (Right) Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 Marvel.

As we’ve already been saying, Iman Vellani mostly makes good on the promise of her debut in ‘Ms. Marvel.’ Her initial scenes here are a little shaky, as she overemotes and screams, but she settles in and finds her groove, and is a delight from that point out. She is the audience point-of-view character: a Captain Marvel superfan (in other words, an MCU fan) who can’t believe the things she’s seeing and participating in alongside her idol. It’s a warm, sweet, and charming performance.

Teyonah Parris’ no-nonsense Monica Rambeau is the other standout, also giving an empathetic performance while conveying a strong sense of the powerful woman behind the light blasts. As for Brie Larson, we’ve always felt that she was possibly miscast as Carol Danvers; we still feel that way. While she has moments that are quite effective, there are times when we’re not sure what she’s doing: a blank, wide-eyed expression frequently comes over her face. In the end, while she interacts well with her partners, Larson just doesn’t have – and perhaps never had – the gravitas that this powerful being requires.

As for the rest of the cast, British actor Zawe Ashton has a wicked grin and blazing eyes as Dar-Benn (in the comics, a male villain so obscure that he was killed after appearing in two books), but she doesn’t get to do a whole lot except fight and hold out her hammer (which is bigger than Mjolnir). Samuel L. Jackson collects his check as a somewhat cutesier Nick Fury, while Zenobia Shroff is as excellent here as she was in ‘Ms. Marvel’ as Kamala’s mom Muneeba.

Related Article: Director Nia DaCosta and Producer Mary Livonas Talk ‘The Marvels’

Editing, Production Design and Music

(L to R) Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

The editing on “The Marvels” must have been a challenge for its two editors, Evan Schiff and Catrin Hedström. On one hand, some of the action sequences – especially the hand-to-hand combat between the Marvels, Dar-Benn, and her Kree minions, as the three heroes constantly swap places – are kinetic and surprisingly intimate, getting right up close into the action. But other parts of the film feel cut to the very bone, if not beyond, with the plot feeling less like a coherent narrative and more like just a choppy string of events. Plot points and characters get hustled on and offscreen like Oscar winners on a particularly overlong show.

Cara Brower’s production design is equally bifurcated, with some of the space-based imagery looking like it jumped off a sci-fi magazine cover, while a lot of the story takes place on Carol’s cramped ship and anonymous hallways in both Dar-Benn’s vessel and Nick Fury’s orbital headquarters. Aside from the cosmic stuff and some colorful costumes in the otherwise ill-advised Aladna sequence, there isn’t much that jumps out as compared to other Marvel movies. The visual effects, such a thorn in Marvel’s side these past few years, are…okay. Some of the imagery crackles and looks sharp, while other scenes (particularly an attack on a Skrull refugee camp) look cheaper and flimsier by comparison.

Finally, Laura Karpman’s music has grandeur but lacks identity. Like other aspects of this movie, it harkens back to a different generation of franchise films and doesn’t have much in the way of a singular theme or motif to make it leap out to the forefront. Like much in “The Marvels,” it seems generic.

What Does ‘The Marvels’ Mean For The MCU’s Future?

Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

Without getting into spoilers, there are seeds planted by ‘The Marvels’ – especially in the tag before the credits roll and a rather mind-blowing mid-credits scene – that are sure to get fans fired up and speculating wildly about what’s next. As well they should: both scenes herald interesting new developments in the MCU. Beyond that, however, it’s difficult to say what comes next for Captain Marvel herself and her place in the Marvel firmament.

Brie Larson has made her disillusionment with the vicious toxicity surrounding the role very apparent (and good for Marvel for ignoring all that nonsense and giving this movie four female leads), and with “The Marvels” being for most of its length a fairly self-contained story, it’s hard to see what a third “Captain Marvel” would look like. On the other hand, would Larson be willing to play a supporting, mentor-like role to a very different team of Avengers? Like many members of the MCU’s current roster, Carol Danvers’ future doesn’t have a clear path in front of it.

Final Thoughts

‘The Marvels’ is by no means the catastrophe that online rumors and industry buzz have made it out to be. It’s got some terrific attributes, including the presence of Iman Vellani, the chemistry between the three leads, its unrepentant “girl power” message, compact pacing and a sense of fun. But a lot of it feels patched together, some of the humor falls flat, and it demands a lot of viewers who may not be up on all the Marvel shows on Disney+. Whether it represents the MCU managing to maintain a certain amount of quality control during a tough time or a new lower standard for the studio is not yet clear.

‘The Marvels’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.
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What is the plot of ‘The Marvels’?

Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), known in the universe as Captain Marvel, suddenly finds herself switching places physically with her superpowered niece Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and an equally powerful teen named Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani). They trace the anomaly back to a villainous Kree leader (Zawe Ashton) who harbors a deep hatred for Carol and nefarious plans for worlds throughout the cosmos.

Who is in the cast of ‘The Marvels’?
- Brie Larson (‘Fast X’) as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel
- Iman Vellani (‘Ms. Marvel’) as Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel
- Teyonah Parris (‘They Cloned Tyrone‘) as Monica Rambeau
- Samuel L. Jackson (‘Spiral’) as Nick Fury
- Zawe Ashton (‘Velvet Buzzsaw’) as Dar-Benn
- Park Seo-jun (‘Parasite’) as Prince Yan
Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels’ opens in theaters on July 28, 2023.

Other Movies Similar to ‘The Marvels:’
- ‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘ (2014)
- ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2‘ (2017)
- ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘ (2018)
- ‘Captain Marvel‘ (2019)
- ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ (2019)
- ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special‘ (2022)
- ‘Thor: Love and Thunder‘ (2022)
- ‘The Making of Ms. Marvel‘ (2022)
Buy Tickets: ‘The Marvels’ Movie Showtimes

Buy ‘Captain Marvel’ On Amazon
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November 8, 2023
‘The Marvels’ Interview: Nia DaCosta and Mary Livonas
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Opening in theaters on November 10th is ‘The Marvels,’ which is the 33rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a sequel to 2019’s ‘Captain Marvel’ and a continuation of the Disney+ series ‘Ms. Marvel’ and ‘WandaVision.’

The movie stars Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, and Teyonah Parris reprising their MCU roles as Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau, respectively, and was directed by Nia DaCosta (‘Candyman’).

(Left) ‘The Marvels’ director Nia DeCosta. (RIght) ‘The Marvels’ executive producer Mary Livonas.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with director Nia DaCosta and executive producer Mary Livonas (‘WandaVision’) to talk about their work on ‘The Marvels.’

They discussed the new movie, the challenges of crafting a ‘Captain Marvel’ sequel that also includes elements from ‘Ms. Marvel’ and ‘WandaVision,’ introducing Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau to the big screen, working with Brie Larson, navigating the “Marvel System,” the most difficult scene to shoot, and what fans can expect from breakout character Goose.

Director Nia DaCosta on the set of Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with DeCosta, Livonas, and composer Laura Karpman.

Moviefone: To begin with, Nia, can you talk about the challenges as a filmmaker of coming into direct a sequel that is also drawing on storylines from the TV series ‘Ms. Marvel’ and ‘WandaVision,’ as well as the 32 previous MCU movies? Was it difficult to find the right tone?

Nia DaCosta: Weirdly, the tone was one of the easiest things. It came naturally. I really wanted this to have a very specific tone because it’s a very different kind of film, we have these three heroes together, and it was important to me that it was funny. I wanted a lot of the humor to not necessarily come from jokes, but to come from just the warmth and the reality of the characters. So, the Khan family are just so funny, because their youngest member is a superhero and they’re like, “We’re from Jersey City. What are you talking about?” Then Carol being jaded, and Monica having her experience and her way of dealing with the craziness of everything that’s going on. So, tone was important to me and the thing that came most naturally.

MF: Mary, as a producer, was it difficult working with Marvel to keep track of all the continuity?

Mary Livonas: Well, what’s been so great is that this is a team-up that’s been in the works for a very long time. I was fortunate to work on the first ‘Captain Marvel’ movie, and it was a definite decision to make Monica Rambeau the age that she was in that installment because it took place in the past. Because we knew that we wanted Carol and Monica to one day share the big screen together. Then of course when ‘Ms. Marvel’ came up as a possibility for a Disney+ show and that show was developed and came out, it was an awesome experience to work in lockstep with that team to understand what foundation they were laying. But what’s wonderful is that the notion of a team-up is so ingrained in the DNA of Marvel Comics that to put it on screen felt natural for us. Again, I was lucky enough to work on ‘WandaVision,’ so continuing that story thread was also wish fulfillment and a blast to do. Really this is a team up movie unlike anything that we’ve seen before in Marvel. We’ve had the adventures, but this is a team-up movie that stands on its own two feet.

(L to R) Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

MF: For both of you, what was it like to have the opportunity to introduce Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau to the big screen?

ND: It was so fun. It was so great. Especially because I love ‘Ms. Marvel.’ Ms. Marvel is one of my favorite characters in the comics, and I really loved meeting Monica Rambeau in ‘WandaVision.’ So, being able to bring them onto the big screen and do more with them and throw them into a much bigger scenario than they’d been in in the TV shows was really cool.

(L to R) Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

ML: What’s great is just the ability to celebrate the incredible performances and the characters that Teyonah and Iman have helped develop and introduce them to a larger audience. What’s wonderful about this film and this installment is the notion that together we’re more than the sum of our parts and we certainly find that in the case of ‘The Marvels.’

MF: Mary, what was it like for you to collaborate with director Nia DaCosta on this project?

ML: It’s been awesome helping bring Nia’s vision to life and creating this story together. She’s not just wickedly cool, but she’s a total nerd. When we first met, we just gushed about all the characters that we love for hours. So, to make the movie alongside someone who’s as passionate, with a fellow fan was a joy. I can say the same about our crew members, but Nia is just such a talent and a force. Of course, she helped write on this as well and we’re lucky to have her talent.

Related Article: 10 Things We Learned at the ‘Secret Invasion’ Virtual Press Conference

Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

MF: Nia, I understand that you’re a big of fan Marvel Comics. How did your knowledge of these characters and the Marvel universe uniquely qualify you to direct this movie?

ND: I think it was less the knowledge, and more my passion for it. I was really excited by it, and I think because I was a fan, it helped me to put trust into the Marvel system, even when I was like, “Oh my God, I would never do this usually.” It helped in that way. Also, just from day to day, being able to have people on wires, flying around and introduce characters that I really love from the comics, that was so fun. So that’s helpful, just in terms of keeping the passion alive.

MF: Can you expand on your experience working with the “Marvel System?” What was that like for you as a filmmaker?

ND: Yeah, it’s interesting because this is one movie in a huge line of films that have come before and will come after, and television shows, and they’re making so much more now, so it was interesting having to navigate and communicate between projects. For the most part, we got to do what we wanted to do, but you always are in a constant conversation with everyone, with Kevin Feige, with the ‘Ms. Marvel” show. Asking about the things coming after, trying to figure out information like, “Have you figured out what you’re doing with that yet? Because that will influence whether or not I have this in this scene.” So, it’s so different, but it was also a fun challenge.

Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

MF: What’s it like having actress Brie Larson as number one on your call sheet? What kind of tone does she set on the set?

ND: Well, she’d done ‘Captain Marvel’, she’d done ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ which is obviously one of the biggest movies of all time, not even just because of how successful it was, but just the making of it. So, she was an old hand. She really came in with so much information and a desire to help everyone else and have a good experience. When we initially talked, we both agreed this should be a joyful experience and fun, and she wanted everyone to have a good time. It’s really demanding on actors physically and emotionally doing this kind of movie. You’re on wires, you’re working a lot, so she was a great leader in that sense.

Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 Marvel.

ML: Brie’s an incredibly giddy, fun-loving person who brings such earnestness and compassion to the role as well as on set. She really helped lead the charge and make sure that the environment was a chill, fun one.

MF: Nia, was there one scene or sequence in particular that was especially difficult or challenging to shoot?

ND: Not extremely, but that first big set piece that we have with the switching and the fighting. So that was a big challenge of figuring out the switching, and who’s where when, where are they going, where are they coming from, and what side do we show. Once we got through that big challenge, it really helped us to have an easier time with the rest of the film. So that, I think, would be probably the most challenging. But also, the most informative.

Goose the Flerken in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

MF: Finally, Goose was the breakout star of ‘Captain Marvel,’ what can fans expect from the character in ‘The Marvels?’

ND: Goose just has the best time in this film, and I think she is the fourth Marvel. She’s the star of the film. So, I think there’s a lot of exciting stuff with Goose in this movie.

Flerkittens in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 Marvel.

ML: Goose continues to be as chaotic as Goose has ever been and as audiences have seen quick glimpses of, there are more Flerkens afoot. Rizzo is the US-based Goose, but we had Nemo and Tango with us in the UK. They are very exclusive celebrities who have very regimented training schedules. They’re awesome to work with. Incredibly talented, beautiful souls.
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What is the plot of ‘The Marvels’?

While investigating a wormhole linked to the Kree, Monica Rambeau’s (Teyonah Parris) powers become entangled with those of Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) and Carol Danvers (Brie Larson). The trio team up to determine why they are swapping places with each other every time they use their powers.

Who is in the cast of ‘The Marvels’?
- Brie Larson (‘Fast X‘) as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel
- Teyonah Parris (‘They Cloned Tyrone‘) as Monica Rambeau
- Iman Vellani (‘Ms. Marvel‘) as Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel
- Zawe Ashton (‘Velvet Buzzsaw‘) as Dar-Benn
- Park Seo-joon (‘Parasite‘) as Prince Yan
- Samuel L. Jackson (‘Secret Invasion‘) as Nick Fury
Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels’ opens in theaters on July 28, 2023.

Other Movies Similar to ‘The Marvels:’
- ‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘ (2014)
- ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2‘ (2017)
- ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘ (2018)
- ‘Captain Marvel‘ (2019)
- ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ (2019)
- ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special‘ (2022)
- ‘Thor: Love and Thunder‘ (2022)
- ‘The Making of Ms. Marvel‘ (2022)
Buy Tickets: ‘The Marvels’ Movie Showtimes

Buy ‘Captain Marvel’ On Amazon
November 7, 2023
Marvel’s ‘Secret Invasion’ Reveals New Character Details
Marvel Studios’ ‘Secret Invasion.’

The title might be ‘Secret Invasion’ and it might hail from Marvel –– notoriously a company that likes to keep details of its movies and series under wraps –– but we’re finally learning more about the next MCU series to arrive on Disney+.

‘Secret Invasion’ will see Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn’s Skrull Talos facing off a brand new threat from a splinter group of the latter’s alien race.

As covered on Entertainment Weekly (and originally reported by Vanity Fair), the show also features Olivia Colman and Emilia Clarke in key roles, and now we have new details about them.

Ben Mendelsohn as Talos in Marvel Studios’ ‘Captain Marvel.’

When did we first meet the Skrulls?

A longtime enemy in the comics, the Skrulls were given a fresh twist by 2019’s ‘Captain Marvel’, as it was revealed that the Skrulls were actually alien refugees of a devastating conflict with fellow extraterrestrials the Kree.

Though Skrulls such as Talos and his team used their shape-shifting abilities (they can mimic any person) to push their agenda, they soon let Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) and Fury know the true nature of their struggle.

At the end of the movie, Fury promised to help the Skrulls find a new home, but since ‘Captain Marvel’ was set in the 1990s and there has been little progress since then, the story has taken another turn.

There is a facet of Skrulls, unhappy with the situation, who are now taking matters into their own hands.

Led by Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir), this splinter group has become radicalized, and aims to get what they believe they’re owed by stealth or by force.

Emilia Clarke in ‘Terminator Genisys.’

Related Article: D23 Expo 2022: Lucasfilm, Marvel, and 20th Century Studios Presentation

Who does Emilia Clarke play in ‘Secret Invasion’?

Among Gravik’s followers is someone very close to Talos, his daughter G’iah, played by ‘Game of Thrones’ veteran Clarke.

Here’s what Clarke says about the situation:

“These people promised a lot of stuff a long time ago, and not a lot has happened. So understandably, a certain amount of resentment has been built. There’s a lot of emotions that live within her, and there’s a lot of confrontational aspects to her character that have come from circumstance. You understand why she has the feelings that she does.”

And here’s what Clarke says about her character:

“There’s a kind of punk feeling that you get from this girl. She’s a refugee kid who’s had Talos for a dad, you know what I mean? Maybe the fact that we didn’t know he had a kid up until this point tells you everything you need to know about their relationship.”

Olivia Colman in ‘Empire of Light.’ Photo by Parisa Taghizadeh, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

Who is Olivia Colman in ‘Secret Invasion’?

On the other side of the conflict, we have Olivia Colman’s character, a high-ranking member of Britain’s intelligence service MI6 (think the real-world organization that employs James Bond in a whole other fictional universe). She’s apparently been both friend and foe to Nick Fury in the past.

Says Jackson of Colman’s character,

“It’s somebody that you’ve never seen her play before. She’s cold-blooded and just relishes being that person.”

The cast for the series, which reportedly, though it has yet to be officially confirmed, kicks off on Disney+ on June 21st, also includes returning MCU veterans Cobie Smulders, Martin Freeman and Don Cheadle.

Marvel Studios’ ‘Secret Invasion.’

Other Movies Similar to ‘Secret Invasion:’
- ‘Iron Man‘ (2008)
- ‘Iron Man 2‘ (2010)
- ‘Iron Man 3‘ (2013)
- ‘The Avengers‘ (2012)
- ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron‘ (2015)
- ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘ (2018)
- ‘Black Panther‘ (2018)
- ‘Captain Marvel‘ (2019)
- ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ (2019)
- ‘Spider-Man: Far from Home‘ (2019)
- ‘Black Widow‘ (2021)
- ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘ (2022)
Buy MCU Movies On Amazon
March 31, 2023
Aramis Knight Talks ‘Ms. Marvel’

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Currently running on Disney+ is the six-episode MCU series ‘Ms. Marvel,’ which is based on the popular Marvel comics character of the same name and will air its finale on July 13th.

The series has introduced audiences to Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), a 16-year-old Pakistani-American who is obsessed with Captain Marvel and eventually gains the ability to harness cosmic energy and create constructs with her magical bangle, making her a superhero too.

In addition to Vellani, the cast also includes Mat Lintz, Yasmeen Fletcher, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh, Rish Shah, Aramis Knight, and Farhan Akhtar.

In episode 4, which was directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Kamala meets the Red Daggers, a group of vigilantes who wear red bandanas and wield throwing knives. She soon joins forces with Red Dagger member Kareem (Knight), as well as the group’s leader Waleed (Akhtar), who wants to help her stop the Clandestines before they destroy the world.

Moviefone recently had a chance to speak with actor Aramis Knight about his work on ‘Ms. Marvel.’

Aramis Knight stars in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ms. Marvel,’ exclusively on Disney+.

You can read our full interview with Aramis Knight below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Knight, Farhan Akhtar, and episode 4 and 5 director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.

Moviefone: To begin with, as an actor, what has it been like for you joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is it nice being on a series that is as much about family and culture as it is about superheroes?

Aramis Knight: First off, it’s a dream come true to be a part of the MCU. It’s every little boy’s dream and every actor’s dream to be able to be a part of a franchise that’s so big. But even more than that, the people at Marvel are really good people from the top to the bottom. Everyone has been so warm, kind and welcoming to us.

I also think being someone who grew up in the industry, I started at five years old, I’m very well aware of whitewashing in the industry. Up until Kareem, I had never played somebody who has the same descent as me, which is pretty crazy. I always played Hispanic or something that I’m not. So, to be able to represent for my culture, to be able to honor my grandmother … my family back home is ecstatic about me being a part of this show. It’s really special to be able to take that next step in my career, as well as do something completely new.

Aramis Knight as Red Dagger/Kareem in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ms. Marvel,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Patrick Brown. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Can you talk about Kareem and his involvement in the Red Daggers?

AK: Kareem is a vigilante crime fighter, born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan. He’s dedicated his life to the Red Daggers. Waleed is his mentor. We’ve spent hundreds of years as an organization studying the Djinn realm and the Clandestines. We really hold a lot of the answers that Kamala needs.

I think it’s also super interesting to see the dynamic between a superhero who has trained his whole entire life and is seemingly powerless and has to train to be able to keep up with other people with powers, compared to a girl who was a normal girl just a week before until she finds this bangle that completely changes her life. So, it creates really interesting dynamics. I was really excited to be able to play this hero who kind of knows so much.

MF: Finally, can you talk about the relationship between Kamala and Kareem, and what it was like for you working with Iman Vellani?

AK: So, Kareem is a great ally to Kamala. They become very good friends, but even more than that, I think he’s somewhat a mentor to her just based on the fact that he’s been in it for so long and she’s so new to it.

Iman and I off screen became really good friends. We lived right next to each other in Thailand, literally next door to one another. So, we would hang out pretty much every day on set and after. It was like having a really amazing friend there, who was a confidante, and someone to talk to if you’re having a bad day that can cheer you up. I think that really translated to the characters as well. Iman and I were super close offset. So, going onset, it was really just like bridging the gap between Kareem and Kamala, and Aramis and Iman.

(L-R): Aramis Knight as Red Dagger/Kareem and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ms. Marvel,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

July 6, 2022
TV Review: ‘Ms. Marvel’

Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ms. Marvel,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Premiering June 8th on Disney+ is the new Marvel series ‘Ms. Marvel,’ which introduces the title character to the MCU, who will next be seen in ‘The Marvels.’

The first and final episodes of the six-part series were directed by executive producers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (‘Bad Boys for Life,’ ‘Batgirl’), and introduces audiences to Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani). She is a 16-year-old Pakistani-American obsessed with Captain Marvel and the Avengers, who eventually gains the ability to harness cosmic energy and create constructs with her magical bangle, making her a superhero too.

In addition to Vellani, the cast also includes Matt Lintz, Yasmeen Fletcher, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh, and Rish Shah. The result is a fun and family friendly Disney+ series that skews young but has enough superhero action and character development to please MCU fans.

The series begins by introducing us to Kamala Khan (Vellani), a 16-year-old Pakistani-American Avengers fan girl, whose favorite superhero is Captain Marvel. With her best friend Bruno (Lintz), Kamala is making a Captain Marvel cosplay costume to wear to the upcoming Avengers-Con. But her over protective mother Muneeba (Shroff) does not want Kamala attending and would rather she focus on her school work. Searching for an item to personalize her costume, Kamala finds a bangle belonging to her grandmother in the attic and sneaks out with Bruno to attend the convention.

Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ms. Marvel,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

But when an accident endangers the patrons at the convention, Kamala discovers that her bangle gives her the ability to harness cosmic energy and create physical constructs. She uses her powers to save the day but unknowingly becomes a public hero and is now being hunted by a mysterious organization.

Meanwhile, Kamala battles with her mother and father (Kapur) for independence, encourages her friend Nakia (Fletcher) to be her own person, meets a mysterious new boy (Shah), and works with Bruno to control her new powers and become a hero.

‘Ms. Marvel’ is the seventh series Marvel Studios has produced for Disney+ following ‘WandaVision,’ ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,’ ‘Loki,’ ‘What If …?,’ ‘Hawkeye,’ and ‘Moon Knight,’ with countless more Marvel series on the horizon. ‘Ms. Marvel’ retains the high quality and production value that fans expect from the Marvel movies, as well the Disney+ shows. But it also feels unique and stand-alone, even if it takes place in the MCU.

One of the criticisms of the Marvel shows and movies since the launch of Disney+ is that the films are just advertisements for the series, and vice a versa. While its well known that Iman Vellani will star opposite Brie Larson in the upcoming ‘The Marvels,’ the new Disney+ series feels nothing like an advertisement for what is to come, but rather an introduction to something new in the MCU … a Marvel fan!

Just like in the real world where we have Comic-Cons where fans dress up as their favorite fictional characters, it would only make sense that within the world of the MCU, they would have similar conventions where fans celebrate their favorite heroes, only in the MCU the heroes are not fictional. Making Kamala Khan a fan girl was a brilliant move, as it makes her an extremely retable character for the Marvel fans watching the show.

(L-R) Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan and Matt Lintz as Bruno in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ms. Marvel,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Fans of Kamala Khan will also notice that her powers have been drastically changed from the comics, where she was originally given the ability to stretch. Marvel has decided to change that, perhaps concerned fans couldn’t take two stretchy characters in the same universe now that John Krasinski has been introduced as Reed Richards in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,’ and a ‘Fantastic Four’ movie is in pre-production.

But they also changed the origin of how Kamala received her powers, with them now coming from a bangle that belonged to her grandmother. Instead of stretching, Kamala can harness cosmic energy and create physical constructs, not unlike the Green Lantern from DC Comics. But, the constructs she creates includes her signature “big hand” from the comics. The choice to change up her powers and how she got them really works and rooting them in her own family history and culture helps drive the character and her story.

In fact, the strongest part of the first two episodes, besides the superhero action sequences, is the sense of family and culture you get from Kamala’s relationship to her loved ones and friends. You really get a sense of who Kamala is in the opening moments of the series, watching the young girl juggle school, friends, family and the occasional fun. Actress Iman Vellani is a lovely discovery, and her performance as Kamala Khan is excellent bringing a very relatable teenager to the screen with all the emotions and expectations that come with that.

Zenobia Shroff and Mohan Kapur bring a lot to the series playing Kamala’s parents. Shroff’s Muneeba is an extremely traditional and protective mother, but you do get the sense that she is just trying her best to raise her daughter safely. Kapur’s Yusef is clearly the “fun dad” and its heartbreaking to watch Kamala pull away from his love as she grows and matures. Along with Saagar Shaikh who plays Kamala’s brother, all four actors do wonderful work creating a completely believable and relatable family dynamic.

(L-R): Yasmeen Fletcher as Nakia; Matthew Lintz as Bruno, and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ms. Marvel.’ Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Matt Lintz and Yasmeen Fletcher play Kamala’s friends, Bruno and Nakia, respectively. My best guess is that as the series goes on, they will play roles similar to Ned Leeds and MJ in the Tom Holland ‘Spider-Man’ series, as Kamala’s closest allies. But keep an eye on Bruno, as its clear he has hidden feelings for Kamala, he could go over to the dark-side if her friendship with the mysterious Karman progresses. It’s also obvious that something else is going on with Rish Shah’s Karman and discovering who’s side he is really on is going to be one of the big questions answered by the series’ end.

First and final episode directors and executive producers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah do a great job of setting the tone for the series with the first episode, and also using animation to progress the story. Their other big contribution is focusing on Kamala as a person first, before meeting her as a hero. They really set her up as an average teenager, worried about school, family, friends, and of course, boys.

Coming off of the practically hard R-rated horror of ‘Moon Knight,’ some Marvel fans might be confused by the teenage family drama of ‘Ms. Marvel,’ but should give the series a chance. While the show is clearly for a younger audience, there is still a lot there for older fans of Marvel to enjoy.

The first two episodes of ‘Ms. Marvel’ receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ms. Marvel.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

June 7, 2022
Brie Larson Joins ‘Fast and Furious 10’

Brie Larson as Carol Danvers in 2019’s ‘Captain Marvel.’

When it comes to news about the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise, it’s often best to skip the usual PR announcements and just head straight to Vin Diesel’s social media feeds. Because the star and producer of the speedy franchise frequently offers up the first information about forward movement. Case in point? Revealing that Brie Larson has joined ‘Fast & Furious 10’.

Posting a smiling picture of himself hanging out with Larson, the man who plays Dominic Toretto remarked in his trademark style about the new addition. “Yeah yeah yeah… you see this angel over my shoulder cracking me up, you say to your self [Sic] ‘that’s captain Marvel’,” Diesel wrote. “Clearly there is love and laughter in this image. What you don’t see however, is the character you will be introduced to in ‘Fast10’. You have no idea how timeless and amazing she will be in our mythology. Beyond her beauty, her intellect… her Oscar, haha is this profound soul who will add something you might not have expected but yearned for.”

You can find the full post below…

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcJ-Yw0rCqd

Quite what Larson will be doing in the film is anyone’s guess, beyond Diesel’s comment about her being “timeless and amazing” and adding “something you might not have expected but yearned for.” His parting comment of “welcome to the FAMILY” suggests she might be joining Dom’s crew, but there’s always a chance she’ll be on the other side of the equation, helping Charlize Theron’s scheming Cipher. But even if she is, expect a traditional ‘Fast’ switch to Team Dom.

It’s the latest blockbuster move for Oscar winner Larson, who is best known for playing Captain Marvel in her eponymous film and ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (plus her brief credits cameo in ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings‘). She’ll be back in theaters next year for ‘The Marvels,’ which will see her Carol Danvers sharing the screen with Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel (who has her own Disney+ series starting June 8) and Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau, the adult version of the character we met in ‘WandaVision’.

‘Fast 10’, meanwhile, has been busy adding various actors to its cast ahead of director Justin Lin starting shooting soon. Jason Momoa and ‘The Suicide Squad’s Daniela Melchior are both already aboard and set to share the screen with returning ‘Fast’ regulars Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Michelle Rodriguez, and Sung Kang.

The plot for the movie remains a mystery, but who are we kidding? Few people are looking to the ‘Fast’ franchise for its plot – we go for the massive, physics-mocking vehicular set pieces, banter between the cast, Diesel’s Dominic Toretto growling about “family” at every given opportunity and the wide array of twists and turns.

‘Fast 10’ is planned as the beginning of the end for the franchise, with a May 19, 2023 release date on the books and a follow-up film that will wrap up the story. We’d be shocked if Diesel and co. take their foot off the gas completely after that, though: the ‘Fast’ movies have been too lucrative for that. Expect spin-offs and other ways to keep things moving beyond that.
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April 11, 2022
First Trailer for Disney+ Series ‘Ms. Marvel’

Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan in Disney+’s ‘Ms. Marvel.’

Marvel has shown a real willingness to expand its roster of characters of late, seeking out people from the pages of the comics who don’t look like a lot of the current crop. And whose stories are on the weirder side. With ‘Moon Knight’ (starring Oscar Isaac as a vigilante who has multiple personalities and a penchant for white suits) due to hit Disney+ on March 30th, we now know that he’ll be followed by ‘Ms. Marvel.’

The focus here is Kamala Khan, a 16-year-old Jersey City native who hero worships Captain Marvel (hence her alter ego), crushes on boys at school, hasn’t quite figured out her life. Iman Vellani plays the main character, Marvel’s first Muslim title hero.

‘Ms. Marvel’ premiered as a standalone comic book series back in 2014 from creators Sana Amanat, G. Willow Wilson, and Adrian Alphona. The TV adaptation was originally announced at the D23 convention back in 2019.

Boasting a visual style that harkens back to its comic book roots more than even Marvel has tried before, it also has similarities to how ‘Turning Red’ played with form, and with just a hint of ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. The World’. It’s bubbly, bright, and from the looks of the trailer alone, star Vellani brings a bright, unforced performance that juggles the starstruck Avengers fan-turned-hero with the adorkable teen side.

There are flights of fantasy, dream montages and, when the moment calls for it, crashing back down to reality thanks to her family and friends.
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Marvel is tweaking her power origin (in the comics, she’s an Inhuman, activated by the Terrigen Mist, but after the benighted ‘Inhumans’ the studio is clearly backing away from that idea so fast you’d barely have time to hear the beeping warning sound. Here, her energy is much more like purple cosmic crystals, which she can manipulate.

And then there’s her abilities, which were once more focused on Mr. Fantastic-style body morphing but have moved towards the crystal idea (though there is some stretchiness to be found lurking in the trailer.)

‘Ms. Marvel’ has ‘Sex Education’ and (keeping it in the Marvel family) ‘Loki’ veteran Bisha K. Ali as its head writer, with episodes directed by ‘Bad Boys for Life’ duo Adil & Bilall, as well as Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Meera Menon. ‘Ms. Marvel’ also stars Saagar Shaikh as Kamala’s older brother Amir, and Zenobia Shroff and Mohan Kapur as her mother and father. Matt Lintz plays her best friend Bruno. But maybe we don’t talk about him yet.

The series has been delayed at least once – originally thought to be aimed at a late 2021 release, it was pushed to this year, with talk of a late 2022 release. But as the trailer reveals, it’ll make its Disney+ bow on June 8.

There had been thought that the delay was because of fan concerns for the character moving too far away from her roots in terms of powers (see above), but it might have been to shift the show closer to the character’s next step.

Vellani’s Khan, you see, is part of ‘Captain Marvel’ sequel ‘The Marvels’, so let the speculation begin as to whether Brie Larson shows up as Kamala’s idol at some point in the show (final episode end credit sting?) to invite her on a bigger adventure.

Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan in Disney+’s ‘Ms. Marvel.’

‘The Marvels’ arrives in theaters on February 17th next year.
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March 15, 2022
Gemma Chan in Talks to Join Marvel’s ‘The Eternals’

Warner Bros.

Gemma Chan may soon pull double duty in the Marvel universe.

The “Crazy Rich Asians” star is in talks to join the cast of “The Eternals,” according to Variety.

Chan played Minn-Erva in “Captain Marvel,” but she would reportedly take on a completely new role in “The Eternals.” It would be an extremely rare instance of one actor playing two different characters in the same cinematic universe.

The star-studded cast already includes Angelina Jolie (Thena), Richard Madden (Ikaris), Kumail Nanjiani (Kingo), Salma Hayek (Ajak) and Brian Tyree Henry (Phastos).

“The Eternals,” based on Jack Kirby’s comic book, follows superpowered, near-immortal beings. Thanos, the villain from “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Endgame,” is an Eternal.

Cosmic beings known as the Celestials genetically experimented on humans to create super-powered individuals known as the Eternals, along with the villainous Deviants. The two groups battled each other throughout history. The Eternals also warred with Greek, Roman and Norse deities before leaving Earth to explore the stars.

The movie will be directed by Chloe Zhao (“The Rider”), from a script by Matthew and Ryan Firpo.

“The Eternals” is slated for release November 6, 2020.

August 6, 2019