Ms. Marvel star Iman Vellani reflects on what it means for her to be playing Kamala Khan in the upcoming Disney+ series. Introduced in the comics in a 2013 issue of Captain Marvel, Kamala's creation was significant because she was Marvel's first Muslim superhero. She went on to lead her own series a year later and quickly became a breakout character among fans. When it came to Ms. Marvel joining the MCU, it didn't seem to be a question of if, but when. That answer arrived in 2019, when Marvel boss Kevin Feige confirmed a Ms. Marvel series was in development.

Slated to be one of the many MCU shows created for Disney+, Ms. Marvel was originally expected to arrive later this year. Newcomer Vellani was cast in the role of Kamala in September 2020, and production began a few months after. However, following the news that Hawkeye will premiere in late November, it appears instead that Ms. Marvel will debut in early 2022. Little is known about the plot for the series, save that it will likely explore Kamala's origins as an Inhuman.

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As part of Variety's 2021 Power of Young Hollywood list, Vellani opened up about playing Kamala Khan for Ms. Marvel and the wider MCU. Instead of focusing on the pressure of playing the franchise's first Muslim hero, Vellani is choosing to see the positive impact of her casting. She said:

“The fact that the show is being made and they’re including this character in the MCU is [what’s important]. I don’t really have to go out of my way and talk about being a Muslim and being Pakistani — it all comes out in the show. People seeing a person like me involved in a project as big as this is, I think, inspiring enough.”

Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan Ms Marvel Superhero Routine

The MCU is taking some major steps forward with its onscreen representation, and there are still so many more to go. In just a few weeks, Marvel will release its first Asian-led movie with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Chloé Zhao's ensemble epic Eternals will introduce the franchise's most diverse cast yet. Ms. Marvel is just one piece in the MCU's massive shift, but it's still an important one. Ever since she was introduced in the comics, Kamala has stood for greater representation, and she do the same for the MCU at large.

Vellani will make her debut in Ms. Marvelbut that is far from her only planned appearance. Next year, she'll make the jump to the film side of the franchise with a role in The Marvels, which also stars Brie Larson as Carol Danvers and Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau. Beyond that, it's less clear as to where Vellani's Kamala will go, but she's expected to play a big role in the MCU going forward. There are rumblings of a Young Avengers project taking shape, and while Kamala isn't a member of the group in the comics, it seems likely that she'll be included in the MCU's lineup. All of this is to say, Vellani is a Marvel star in the making, and audiences should prepare to see a lot of her going forward.

More: Who Is Ms. Marvel? The MCU's New Teen Superhero Explained

Source: Variety

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