Update: Here's concept art for what Brie Larson could look like as Captain Marvel!
While promoting Captain America: Civil War to launch the 2016 summer blockbuster season and Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios President of Production Kevin Feige explained that fans should expect casting and director announcements for Captain Marvel sometime during the summer.
And so it didn't take long for reports to begin rolling in about directorial candidates for the 2019-set origin tale about Carol Danvers who became Ms. Marvel and then Captain Marvel. Earlier this month Emily Carmichael and Elizabeth Wood were rumored to be contenders to helm the picture - and now we can add Brie Larson to the list of frontrunners for the title role in front of the camera.
We say "list" since for a long time rumors and the occasional report indicated Emily Blunt may already have the role. However, Variety has the scoop from their sources who reveal that Brie Larson is in early talks with Marvel Studios to become their first female hero to lead a film on their own, and is very interested in the part. Who wouldn't be?!
The timing couldn't be better for both Marvel and Larson - who simply crushed it in last year's critical hit Room, where she won an Oscar for her leading role. At only 26 years of age, already with an Academy Award, Larson is easily on the Hollywood A-list for long-term franchises (every studio is looking for a series and a shared universe) and that reportedly has Marvel's interest piqued. With several other films in development, including a lead role in the geek friendly Kong: Skull Island, Larson's profile and popularity is only going to skyrocket very soon, and perhaps even into the Marvel cosmic...
Captain Marvel is being written by Meg LeFauve (Inside Out) and Nicole Perlman (Guardians of the Galaxy's original draft) and the character of Carol Danvers is expected to be introduced earlier in the MCU before her solo debut in spring 2019. It's already been revealed by Captain America 2 & 3 directors Anthony and Joe Russo that Danvers will have a role in Avengers: Infinity War - Part 1 (to be re-titled) meaning she could be playing a human member of the military in the movies before she gets her powers and/or before she takes up the mantle of "Captain Marvel." Danvers was known as "Ms. Marvel" for the bulk of her career until more recently in Marvel Comics.
While serving among the Avengers for a long time, in modern comics stories - especially since the name and costume change - Captain Marvel has taken on a leadership role in the team. In the current All-New, All-Different Marvel Comics, Danvers leads the Ultimates. That's all to say if Larson signs on for the role, she'll be on the big screen with fellow Avengers for at least a decade. Easily. And the screen presence Larson could bring to the role, from the drama (Room) to the comedy (Trainwreck), makes this an easy casting win if it shakes out.
In related news, THR reports that other new contenders for the director's chair include Niki Caro (Whale Rider, McFarland, USA) and Jennifer Kent (The Babadook) proving that Marvel is going for a female director for their first female solo movie. Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) is now expected to get her own movie in Phase 4 of the MCU after recent comments from Feige as well.
Update: Here's concept art for what Brie Larson could look like as Captain Marvel!
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Captain America: Civil War is in theaters now. Doctor Strange opens November 4, 2016; Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – May 5, 2017; Spider-Man: Homecoming – July 7, 2017; Thor: Ragnarok – November 3, 2017; Black Panther – February 16, 2018; Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 – May 4, 2018; Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel– March 8, 2019; Avengers: Infinity War Part 2– May 3, 2019; and as-yet untitled Marvel movies on July 12, 2019, and on May 1, July 10, and November 6 in 2020.