The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 3 is now in full swing, with several new characters successfully being introduced this year. Black Panther and Spider-Man were scene stealers in May's Captain America: Civil War, while Dr. Stephen Strange led his own vehicle to much critical acclaim and box office revenue. This trio's arrival into the MCU is only the tip of the iceberg, however, since more additions will be joining the franchise in the near future. One of the most anticipated newcomers is Carol Danvers, a.k.a. Captain Marvel, who will be played by Oscar winner Brie Larson.
Marvel is planning to release the first Captain Marvel film in March 2019, and they have slowly but surely been putting the pieces together. Meg LeFauve and Nicole Perlman are tasked with penning the script, but fans are more curious to learn who will direct the feature. The studio is understandably taking their time with that matter, frequently reiterating that it is important a woman filmmaker calls the shots. Initially, it seemed like an announcement on that front would be made by the end of the summer, but that obviously did not happen. Now, the latest Captain Marvel update indicates next year will have the answers.
Variety film reporter Justin Kroll took to Twitter to share new information about Captain Marvel's development, revealing that a script treatment is nearly in place and Marvel will be taking meetings with director candidates soon:
Captain Marvel Update: Studio getting treatment on script soon. Meetings with directing candidates to follow but not till the new year— Justin Kroll (@krolljvar) December 14, 2016
Several possible helmers have been rumored for Captain Marvel over the past months, but it's unknown at this juncture if any of them are still in the running. The most recent shortlist (which included Niki Caro, Lesli Linka Glatter, and Lorene Scafaria) was from August, and things certainly could have changed since then. When the search revs back up in 2017, it will be interesting to see which names are connected to the project. Many viewers are pleased and excited by Marvel's commitment to diversifying their directorial lineup, but it's more important to find the best fit for Captain Marvel. Kevin Feige has mentioned before that Danvers has powers that are "off the charts" and greater than anything seen in the MCU, so it's necessary that whoever makes the movie is comfortable with elaborate action set pieces.
The good news is that Captain Marvel is still a ways from its premiere. If it stays on target for a 2019 debut, that means principal photography won't have to begin until early 2018. Feige and company have plenty of time to find the right woman for the job, and they're better off not rushing into anything. As the first MCU installment to be headlined exclusively by a female superhero, there will be a lot of pressure on Captain Marvel to elevate the franchise to the next level and break new ground. Marvel has been on an extended hot streak over the past few years, so there's little reason to doubt them now. They understand the importance of doing these characters justice, and make sure they're in the correct hands.
Source: Justin Kroll
