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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
‘Ms. Marvel’s Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy Directing New Star Wars Movie

‘Ms. Marvel’ director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.

It’s fair to say that the news has gone quieter than news reports on Alderaan for the big screen ‘Star Wars’ side of things.

While the TV arm keeps flourishing with ‘The Mandalorian’, its various spin-offs and other shows such as ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’, ‘Andor’ and upcoming animated series ‘Tales of the Jedi’, the movie side of Lucasfilm’s sprawling franchise hasn’t seen a release since 2019’s ‘The Rise of Skywalker’.

And despite financial success, it was a divisive title that didn’t garner a lot of love from critics.

Now, at least, according to Deadline, one of the projects in development at Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ assembly line is taking a tentative step forward, as the movie has hired ‘Ms. Marvel’s Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy as director.

Obaid-Chinoy, who handled two episodes of the peppy, enjoyable Marvel outing, is being brought in now to work with writer/producer Damon Lindelof, so that she’s part of the creative team from an early stage.

It’s no doubt to help avoid some of the director problems that Lucasfilm has faced in the past, including on ‘Solo’ and Colin Trevorrow stepping away from what became ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ under J.J. Abrams.

And Lindelof, of course, has plenty of writing experience, having worked on ‘Lost’, created shows such as ‘The Leftovers’ and ‘Watchmen’ and provided scripts for movies including ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ and ‘Alien’ prequel ‘Prometheus’.

Michael Fassbender as David in ‘Prometheus.’

Lindelof has been figuring this one out for a few months, but he hasn’t been working alone: what Deadline’s story doesn’t mention, but that The Hollywood Reporter’s Bothan spies whispered to it is that Lindelof is in fact co-writing the movie with rising star scribe Justin Britt-Gibson.

His resume includes time as an executive story editor on Guillermo del Toro’s vampire drama, ‘The Strain’ and wrote episodes of Starz’s ‘Counterpart’, the series about parallel dimensions that starred J.K. Simmons and was cruelly cancelled after two excellent seasons. Gibson has also worked on ‘Banshee’ and ‘Into the Badlands’.

Further, there is news that the movie’s basic story was hammered out, TV-style by a writers room convened over a two-week session in July.

Present to figure out the ideas behind the script were Patrick Somerville, (a veteran of Lindelof’s much-admired drama ‘Leftovers’ who went on to create ‘Station Eleven’, Rayna McClendon, a consulting producer from ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ who has also contributed to Lucasfilm’s upcoming ‘Willow’ sequel series; and ‘Briarpatch’ TV series creator Andy Greenwald. There’s also mention that Dave Filoni – the creative mastermind behind much of Lucasfilm’s animated ‘Star Wars’ series and who now works alongside Jon Favreau to shepherd the ‘Mandalorian’ set of shows – was also involved.

No concrete details have emerged about the script that Lindelof and Britt-Gibson are writing, though there is talk that it’ll be set after the events of ‘Rise of Skywalker’ and could potentially feature characters from the sequel trilogy that also includes ‘The Force Awakens’ and ‘The Last Jedi’. It’s very much a wait and see on that front, however – chances are Lindelof might be more interested in a story entirely unconnected to the recent movies (“somehow, Palpatine returned again… again.” Yeah… not loving the idea ourselves.)

The Reporter’s sources also mention that unlike recent developments aimed at figuring out trilogies in one go, this will be a stand-alone with potential for more if it succeeds.

And Lucasfilm could use a win, what with endless stories of big names including ‘The Last Jedi’s Rian Johnson, Marvel boss Kevin Feige and writer/director Taika Waititi talking up their plans, with little actual momentum to be found.

The most recent disappoint was Patty Jenkins’ ‘Rogue Squadron’, which had looked like it was headed for take-off, but has since been grounded, its release date off the books and no word on when it might be headed for production, let alone release.

Given that the Lindelof film is still in the scripting stage, we wouldn’t expect to see it much before 2025, but there will no doubt be 265 ‘Star Wars’ TV shows to fill the gap in the meantime.

(L to R) John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, and Oscar Isaac star in ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.’
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October 25, 2022
‘Batgirl’ Directors “Shocked” by the Decision to Shelve it

Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah from Disney+’s ‘Ms. Marvel.’

There was shock and disbelief yesterday when reports began to emerge that Warner Bros. Discovery had decided to ditch the DC title ‘Batgirl’ – even though the movie had finished shooting and was in the middle of post-production.

That feeling of disbelief was shared by the directors of the movie, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. The duo, who had previously worked on the likes of ‘Bad Boys for Life’ and the Disney+ series ‘Ms. Marvel,’ have been quick to respond.

El Arbi and Fallah (who had been taking a quick break from editing the movie for El Arbi’s wedding in Morocco) were informed of the studio’s decision a short time before the news began to emerge into the world. And now they have hit Instagram to express their stunned feelings over the move.

“We are saddened and shocked by the news. We still can’t believe it,” the directing duo wrote in the post. “As directors, it is critical that our work be shown to audiences, and while the film was far from finished, we wish that fans all over the world would have had the opportunity to see and embrace the final film themselves. Maybe one day they will.”

They continue, “Our amazing cast and crew did a tremendous job and worked so hard to bring Batgirl to life. We are forever grateful to have been part of that team. It was a dream to work with such fantastic actors like Michael Keaton, J.K. Simmons, Brendan Fraser, Jacob Scipio, Corey Johnson, Rebecca Front and especially the great Leslie Grace, who portrayed Batgirl with so much passion, dedication and humanity.”

“In any case, as huge fans of Batman since we were little kids, it was a privilege and an honor to have been a part of the DCEU, even if it was for a brief moment,” the statement ends. “‘Batgirl’ For Life.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CgzisvCMwmk/

Though there had been talk of problematic test screenings or issues with the movie’s quality, the studio’s own statement refutes that.

“The decision to not release ‘Batgirl’ reflects our leadership’s strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max,” it read. “Leslie Grace is an incredibly talented actor and this decision is not a reflection of her performance. We are incredibly grateful to the filmmakers of ‘Batgirl’ and ‘Scoob! Holiday Haunt’ (the animated movie that was scrapped at the same time as the superhero adventure) and their respective casts and we hope to collaborate with everyone again in the near future.”

Batgirl herself, Leslie Grace, added her own statement, via Twitter.

“I feel blessed to have worked among absolute greats and forged relationships for a lifetime in the process!” she wrote. “To every Batgirl fan – THANK YOU for the love and belief, allowing me to take on the cape and become, as Babs said best, ‘my own damn hero!’” You can see her full stamen below…

Querida familia! On the heels of the recent news about our movie “Batgirl,” I am proud of the love, hard work and intention all of our incredible cast and tireless crew put into this film over 7 months in Scotland. pic.twitter.com/jGACQHoMjm

— Leslie Grace (@lesliegrace) August 4, 2022

Turns out the real reason for the change was something far more mundane – the incoming executive team is changing the direction of how Warner Bros. handles its DC titles (again) and ‘Batgirl’ fell through the cracks as a movie that wasn’t big enough to justify the budget to upgrade and market it for theatrical release, as it had been planned as a direct-to-HBO Max movie.

The corporate decision was made to write it off on taxes as a loss, as part of an accounting technique in the wake of the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery that allows for such moves.

It’s only available for a limited time, so other movies including ‘Blue Beetle’ seem safe for now.

Yet to our thinking, this is just another sign that Warner Bros. still appears to have very little idea how to plan for and execute a coherent strategy for its DC movie universe.

Robert Pattinson as Batman in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure “The Batman,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Jonathan Olley/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

There are various strands, between the DCEU and the unconnected likes of ‘The Batman’, with different versions of characters floating around.

Merging Warner Bros. and DC has led to even more chaos, as a new executive team arrives and decides to change up the thinking once again. Plenty of other projects in development and existing shows are being cancelled as the corporate strategy shifts.

While at one point the studio was all about sharing content between theatrical and HBO Max (and, during the pandemic, releasing everything day-and-date), it now appears to be intent on keeping bigger theatrical titles in their lane and making fewer movies for the streaming service in order to cut costs.

We’re still not sure that this all sounds like a good idea, at least not until Warner/Discovery and DC has a workable policy for its movies and TV series. While not everyone has to look to Marvel, Disney’s approach to essentially letting Kevin Feige and his creative partners control every aspect of their output has paid dividends and (largely) delighted fans.

Warners is said to be on the hunt for someone who can offer similar guidance on the DC front, though picking from the comic book company’s ranks or the movie side hasn’t yet led to firm success.

DC has certainly had hits – ‘Aquaman’ made more than a billion dollars, while ‘Joker’ brought both big box office and Oscar-winning kudos.

Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.

But all this chopping and changing has not been good for the movies’ reputation, and while DC has ‘Black Adam’, ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ and ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ on the way, they’ll all need to perform to stop the concern over output quality and the direction behind the films as a whole.

And while ‘The Flash’ – whose future remains in flux while star Ezra Miller continues to bring the wrong type of press – seems destined to still get the blockbuster treatment, it’s really not a great look to effectively flush a movie directed by and starring people of color down the corporate toilet to serve the needs of shareholders.

Plus, it’s hardly the best sign to creative people who might want to work with you in future and are now concerned that their hard work may end up on a shelf forever.

Leslie Grace in HBO Max’s ‘Batgirl.’
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August 3, 2022
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
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah Talk ‘Ms. Marvel’

Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah from Disney+’s ‘Ms. Marvel.’

Premiering on Disney+ beginning June 8th is the six-episode series ‘Ms. Marvel,’ which is based on the popular Marvel comics character of the same name.

The series introduces 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 Matt Lintz, Yasmeen Fletcher, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh, and Rish Shah. ‘Bad Boys for Life’ and the upcoming ‘Batgirl’ filmmakers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah directed the first and final episode of the series, as well as serving as executive producers.

Moviefone recently had a chance to speak with directors and executive producers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah about their work on ‘Ms. Marvel.’
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You can read our full interview with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Arbi and Fallah, and writer and executive producer Bisha K. Ali, as well as actors Mat Lintz, Yasmeen Fletcher, Rish Shah, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, and Saagar Shaikh.

Moviefone: To begin with, Adil can you talk about the challenges of directing the first and final episodes of this series and handing off the middle episodes to other directors? Did you work with the other filmmakers to keep continuity between the episodes?

Adil El Arbi: Yeah. The challenge is always when you have the power to establish the character and describe somebody that everybody will love, but also deciding really what the visual style is going to be. That’s why we came upT with that animation. It was not in the script, but we wanted to find a way to convey her dream world and fantasy world in those sequences.

That’s why we tried to convince Kevin Feige to allow us to do that, because it’s different from the other MCU shows. Surprisingly, he let us do that. He said, “As long as it’s true to the character and the story, go for it.” Inspired by ‘Into the Spider-Verse,’ we tried to do a live action version of that. That’s why you get this animation sequence in the beginning. When she text messages, you see the environment, and that mirrors on the wall.

Then when we talked with the other directors, Meera Menon and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, we showed them the pilots. We said, “That’s the blueprint. We love sweeping camera moves. We love fast-paced cutting. We love music, all the vibrant stuff. Go loco with that and find your own moments of creativity.” It was a great freedom.

That’s why in episode two you have the romantic music sequence, and that’s because of Kamala. As it goes further, it’s a very consistent style, and it becomes cooler and cooler. Then we hope that we have a nice bookend at the end. It’s hopefully a great satisfying finale.

(L-R): Rish Shah as Kamran 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.

MF: Bilall, can you talk about the choice to change Kamala’s powers from the comics and rooting them in her family’s history and culture?

Bilall Fallah: So, Kevin Feige wanted to adapt the comic book, and not really make a literal translation. So, when we came on the project, it was written as hard light. At the same time, it was like, oh, it has to be as cool as it was in the comic book, but at the same time it was super exciting to create something new.

Then with our whole production team, we were thinking, how can we make this power really exceptional? We came back to the comic books and tried to capture that spirit. So that’s why you still have the big hand, or that she cannot control her power.

So, she has to still be that teenager with a changing body that was in the comic book, which was really also important to have in the powers that we see on the show. I think if you go further in the show, the powers will get really close to who Ms. Marvel is going to be. So, it’s going to be exciting to see.

AEA: Maybe there’s a variant in the multiverse of Kamala Khan who has exactly the same powers as in the comic book. Everything’s possible now!

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

MF: Finally, why was Iman Vellani the right young actress to embody this beloved character and bring her to life on screen?

AEA: Well, Iman Vellani’s life is really Kamala Khan, there’s a real parallel story of her journey that’s the same as Kamala Khan. Iman is this Canadian, Pakistani Muslim girl that is the biggest fan of the MCU. She looks up to Marvel. Kevin Feige is her idol. ‘Iron Man’ is her all-time favorite movie. She never thought that one day she would be part of the MCU. All of a sudden, she’s there, an actress, playing a main character, playing a superhero!

That’s the same as Kamala Khan who aspired to become a superhero. She was looking up to Captain Marvel and the Avengers, but not believing that one day she would be part of their team. All of a sudden, it happens. You really have that parallel journey of Iman Vellani and Kamala Khan. She brought so much of her own personality. She’s also a filmmaker. She’s so smart. She knows so much about movies that she really became the heart and soul of the whole show. She was born to play this character.

‘Ms. Marvel’ premieres June 8th on Disney+.

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

June 6, 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
Marvel Confirms Three New Disney+ Series, Including ‘She-Hulk’ and ‘Moon Knight’

Marvel/Disney+

As if the slew of new Marvel shows coming to Disney+ weren’t already massive, the studio just confirmed three new series: “Ms. Marvel” (news of which leaked before the D23 panel), as well as “She-Hulk” and “Moon Knight.”

No cast has been announced yet for these upcoming shows:

“She-Hulk” will follow Bruce Banner’s cousin, attorney Jennifer Walters, who gets a radioactive blood transfusion. She first appeared in 1980’s The Savage She-Hulk No. 1, and was the last major Marvel character co-created by Stan Lee.

“Moon Knight” is the vigilante alter ego of mercenary Marc Spector, who also has two other alter egos: millionaire Steven Grant and cab driver Jake Lockley. They may all be coming from Egyptian deity Konshu … or Konshu might also be a figment of Spector’s imagination. Got that?

“Ms. Marvel”: This version of Captain Marvel is a teenager named Kamela Khan, Marvel’s first Muslim character to lead her own comics title. She’s a Pakistani-American who has the ability to stretch and change her shape. The show is in development with British writer Bisha K. Ali to write and act as showrunner.

We’re also getting alternate reality animated series “What If…?” in 2021. “Westworld” star Jeffrey Wright will voice the all-seeing Watcher, who will be “your guide through these vast new realities.”

Kevin Feige showed scenes of alternate MCU plots, including Zombie Captain America and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) taking up Captain America’s mantle and becoming Captain Carter.

All these series will be intertwined with Marvel’s theatrical films, meaning they expect you to watch “Falcon & Winter Soldier,” “WandaVision,” “Loki,” “What If…?”,” Hawkeye” and all the MCU movies.

Disney+ launches November 12 in the U.S.

For more coverage from the D23 Expo 2019, click here!

[Via THR]

August 23, 2019
‘Ms. Marvel’ Series in the Works at Disney+: Report

Marvel Comics

Another female superhero is coming to the Marvel screen universe.

Disney+ is developing a “Ms. Marvel” series, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The streaming service has hired British writer Bisha K. Ali (“Four Weddings and a Funeral”) to write and act as showrunner.

An announcement about the series may occur during today’s D23 Expo.

The most recent version of the hero, which is the one the show will use, is the teenager Kamala Khan, Marvel’s first Muslim character to be lead her own comics title.

A Pakistani American living with her religious family in New Jersey, Khan has the ability to stretch and change her shape.

It’s unclear how the “Ms. Marvel” show would fit into the rest of the Marvel cinematic and television universe.

It’s one of a number of Marvel projects in the works at Disney+. Others include “Avengers” spinoffs “Falcon and Winter Soldier,” “WandaVision,” “Hawkeye,” and “Loki.”

For more coverage from the D23 Expo 2019, click here!

August 23, 2019