Although comic book movies are now some of the biggest films to hit theaters each year, leading roles have gone to men more times than not. Studios are starting to correct this and release more female led films in general, next year will usher in a new age for the genre with Wonder Woman being the first major female superhero movie since Catwoman and Elektra in the mid-'00s. Shortly after, the world will also get to meet Brie Larson as Carol Danvers, who will lead Marvel's first female led superhero movie, Captain Marvel.
This movie has been a long time coming for Marvel Studios, which has previously experimented with Black Widow as the unofficial co-lead of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, prior to Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) getting official co-lead recognition for Ant-Man and the Wasp. When Captain Marvel debuts, Larson is ready to be a symbol for all girls.
Larson is in attendance at Toronto International Film Festival to promote her new film Free Fire, but sat down with Space Channel to discuss the impact of Carol Danvers. Larson has already thanked fans for supporting her early on in this process, and is loving the amounts of photos she gets of young girls dressed as Captain Marvel. In a time when female superheroes are still largely in the minority, Larson understands this and wants to help lead the charge of change:
"The thing that's been the most exciting now is on social media I get sent a lot of pictures of young girls in the Captain Marvel costume and I'm excited to see more of that. She's such a great symbol for young girls, and realizing what a deficit we have, that we don't have more of those. I think it's really cool to see a girl in a Batman costume or a Spider-Man costume, but I'm really excited that there's a symbol of women. I think that's really important."
There so far hasn't been a good track record for female superhero movies, but the time has never been better for these films to shine through. Larson may not be the first female to lead a superhero movie that is part of a blockbuster franchise, but the early response to Wonder Woman has been nothing but positivity. Should it deliver, excitement for Captain Marvel will likely only continue to rise.
These may be the only two female led superhero movies on the horizon as of right now, but Hollywood works in trends so if (more likely when) both are hits, more announcements should not be too far behind. Both Marvel and DC are already hoping both of these turn into long running franchises, and Marvel seems to be making a push for younger female heroes on television as well. Squirrel Girl could reportedly get a show soon, while prospects of Ms. Marvel appearing in some form continue to be discussed. They are also bringing Runaways to Hulu, which features multiple female leads, in addition to female protagonists in Cloak & Dagger, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Jessica Jones.
Larson is already embracing the role model mentality early on in this journey, and do not be surprised if Captain Marvel has multiple female heroes in it. Marvel has also teased plans for Black Widow or Scarlet Witch to get standalone films, with more possibilities likely being discussed as well. It is safe to say, the future is bright for female superheroes.
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 – May 4, 2018; Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel – March 8, 2019; Untitled Avengers – May 3, 2019; and as-yet untitled Marvel movies on July 12, 2019, and on May 1, July 10, and November 6 in 2020.
Source: Space Channel