The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s newest hero, Kamala Khan, AKA Ms. Marvel, makes her debut on Disney+ Wednesday in the colorful series that bears the heroine’s name.
The character, the first Muslim-American superhero in Marvel Comics, was co-created by Sana Amanat, who also co-created the series. She’s played by 19-year-old newcomer Iman Vellani, who, like the character, is also a Pakistani American — and who was a Ms. Marvel fangirl before she even got the role.
“The parallels are insane,” she tells ABC Audio. “…Kamala getting her powers and me getting this part, are hand in hand. I went on a very similar journey with this character throughout the entire show. And I honestly just put all of my real-life self into her.”
In fact, years before she became Ms. Marvel in the MCU, Iman cosplayed as the character. Also, the show’s first episode shows Marvel fan Kamala cosplaying as Captain Marvel — the superhero played by Brie Larson in the MCU — and the actress with whom Vellani stars in the upcoming big-screen movie The Marvels.
When Vellani got the part, Amanat, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and others told her on a Zoom call that went viral.
Amanat recalls of Vellani, “She pops up…like she’s standing in the middle of a road or something and like spinning the camera because of course, she’s…freaking out, and it was just awesome…I got so emotional. I was crying. I was like, ‘It’s Iman, like, this is such a big moment and historic…’ And just, you know, awesome, awesome, awesome!”Â
Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, parent company of ABC News.
Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Related Posts
Seth MacFarlane teams up with Scorsese to save cartoons
April 19, 2024
Photos: Kenji Fitzgerald/Brigette LacombeFamily Guy creator Seth MacFarlane has teamed up with a…
Board meeting’s in session: Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ has arrived
April 19, 2024
Beth GarrabrantThe board meeting has begun: Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department has…
Billie Eilish reveals track list for ‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT’
April 18, 2024
InterscopeBillie Eilish has released the track list for her new album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, which…
Music notes: Billie Eilish, Kelly Clarkson and more
April 18, 2024
Billie Eilish has declared her 2024 Coachella experience "the greatest weekend of my life" in an…
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrating ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ with Taylor Swift Fan Day
April 18, 2024
Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesTaylor Swift isn't in the Rock & Roll Hall of…
Netflix reveals ‘The Witcher’ will end after a just-announced fifth season
April 18, 2024
Hemsworth (center) and cast at a Season 4 table read -- Courtesy NetflixNetflix announced Thursday…
Harry Styles stalker who sent him 8,000 cards in a month jailed
April 18, 2024
Karwai Tang/WireImageA woman who allegedly sent Harry Styles 8,000 cards in less than a month has…
Trailer using AI to cast Henry Cavill and Margot Robbie in new James Bond movie goes viral
April 18, 2024
Good Morning AmericaHenry Cavill is James Bond and Margot Robbie the femme fatale in a new trailer…