Brie Larson: Captain Marvel is the Bridge Between MCU Earth & Space

Screen Rant

By Kevin Yeoman

Published Feb 27, 2017

Academy Award winner Brie Larson discusses her role as Captain Marvel and what the character means to the ever-expanding MCU.

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand, many more solo characters are finally getting a shot at big-screen stardom and increased recognition. And while that means the cinematic side of the House of Ideas will have to take risks beyond betting on a group of good-looking intergalactic rapscallions jamming out to K Billy's Super Sounds of the '70s, one character in particular, Captain Marvel, comes with expectations that go far beyond whether or not a solo character who may not be well-known outside comic book circles will drive audiences into theaters. Instead, the film marks Marvel Studios' first foray into a female-led film.

With the film slotted into the studio's 2019 release schedule, that puts Marvel two years behind DC Films and Warner Bros.' Wonder Woman that will hit theaters later this summer. But as has been the case with Marvel since the big bang that was Iron Man birthed its cinematic universe, the studio appears content to take its time, making sure all the pieces are in place. And it's not as though star Brie Larson and her on-screen persona, Carol Danvers, won't be making an appearance before the release of the Captain Marvel film. Previous casting calls seem to confirm Larson's involvement in The Avengers: Infinity War – though whether or not she'll be making use of Captain Marvel's impressive powers in the battle against Thanos remains to be seen.

Still, with Marvel making it clear that Danvers will be a big part of the next phase of the MCU, questions have inevitably sprung up concerning exactly where Captain Marvel fits in with the likes of Iron Man, Captain America, Black Panther, Spider-Man, and, of course, the Guardians of the Galaxy. As Larson stated when asked that question by Yahoo! Movies, it turns out the good captain is intended to bring the terrestrial and space-faring halves of the Marvel Cinematic Universe together. Larson said:

“Well, quite simply, she’s kind of like the bridge between these two worlds. She’s the bridge between what’s happening up in space and what’s happening down on Earth.”

Larson's statement will no doubt make for interesting speculation about her character's role in the upcoming Marvel films prior to the release of the Captain Marvel solo outing. Being the bridge between the "two worlds" – or the Marvel Cosmic and the Marvel Proper – seemingly places the importance of Danvers relatively high, especially as it suggests already established (and popular) characters like the Guardians will remain on the "space" side of the MCU equation.

It also raises plenty of questions as to where Danvers starts out, and whether or not she's imbued with her incredible abilities the first time she's introduced on-screen. Bridging the gap between the two components of the MCU also seems to suggest Danvers will split her time between both places, so perhaps Captain Marvel will be a mix of high-flying science fiction and superhero storytelling, with a narrative that's balances the interplanetary grandness of Guardians with more Earth-bound elements of Captain America.