Thursday, October 1, 2020

'Ms. Marvel' finds fresh face to play Pakistani American Muslim superhero

Iman Vellani will get her big break as Ms. Marvel.


A teenaged Pakistani American Muslim superhero. Sounds like a hit, right?

The long search for an actress to play the popular comics character, Kamala Khan, whose alter ego is Ms. Marvel, is over. Newcomer Iman Vellani will star in the upcoming series that will debut on the streaming network Disney+.

“Speechless and excited! Wish me luck,” the 18-year-old Vellani said on her Instagram account Wednesday. 

The comicbook character has been a fan favorite since she was first introduced into the Marvel universe in 2014 and breaks the mold for superheroes in so many ways. Kamala Khan, a Pakistani American teen based in New Jersey. Her superpower is an ability to extend her limbs, alter her appearance, and shift her shape and size,

Besides dealing with typical teenage angst and securities, Kamala works tirelessly to make the world a better place.


Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has said that in addition to appearing on the small screen, Kamala Khan will be included in future Marvel films.

Ms. Marvel iwill be the second series to feature a South Asian coming-of-age theme. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, 18 debuted in the Mindy Kaling sitcom, Never Have I Ever, as its lead character Devi Vishwakumar.

The Asian Canadian Vellani got a taste of moviedom at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival where she offered her expertise to the TIFF Next Wave Committee. As one of 12 teens tasked with selecting films relevant to a younger, more progressive audience, Vellani chose Minhal Baig’s Hala as her pick—the story of an American Muslim teen trying to balance the pulls between her two often conflicting cultures.

“We want stories from different genders and different countries and different people,” said Vellani at the time. “I think [it]’s a really important film to see when you want to take a good look at a young member of society who’s just trying to fit in to the best of both worlds.”

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