Following other critically acclaimed shows on Disney+ like Loki and Wandavision, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has continuously expanded its roster over the years with a more inclusive lineup of heroes to grace the screens. And that includes the likes of younger heroes such as Ms Marvel. Now, if you’ve been following MCU closely, then you’d be no stranger to the comic.
What and who is Ms Marvel?
Played by Iman Vellani, Ms Marvel sees the makings of a young hero in 14-year-old Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American growing up in Jersey City with her Muslim immigrant parents of Pakistani descent. Kamala often daydreams and spends most of her time idolizing superheroes from the Avengers like Captain Marvel.
However, as a student, Kamala feels like she doesn’t fit in at school and sometimes even at home. But things start to change when she realises that she has superpowers like the heroes she’s always looked up to. Hence, she adopts Ms Marvel as her new alter-ego.
How Marvel is raising the stakes for on-screen diversity?
Marvel’s push for greater diversity and inclusion has only set the stage for more producers to follow suit. Back in 2013, Marvel announced the original blonde superhero was going to be replaced by a Muslim Pakistani-US teenager called Kamala Khan. And while most comic book readers back then were male-dominated and white-centric, the new decision has paved the way for more diversity in the future of MCU.
In an exclusive interview with Sana Amanat for Her World, the executive producer and writer behind Ms Marvel, we dived in on some of the struggles filming the series, challenging the perception of your usual superheroes and how the MCU has evolved in representing women. To find out more, keep on scrolling.
“There were many struggles. I mean, trying to film during a pandemic was really hard and we were the first few shows out of the gate so we were trying to figure things out as we went along so that was a huge challenge. And also, trying to adapt a comic and a story that’s so personal to me while still making sure that it was a true adaptation that stayed inherently true to the character in the story.
We worked so hard to make all those years ago, so it’s constantly a challenge and it’s like releasing your child into the world. There are so many people who are continuing story, which is really awesome I would say.
But those were the two things that were challenging with shooting during a pandemic being the worst. But hey guess what, I can shoot anywhere now.”
“I think when Ms Marvel came 8 years ago it was a change for the comic book industry because no one looked like her and it started changing the game for the type of characters that we had at Marvel which is very exciting.
For Kamala, in a lot of ways, you haven’t really seen anyone like her, but she’s actually quite familiar with comic book storytelling because she’s like Peter Parker. She’s a young kid, trying to figure out who she is, she’s awkward, she has a lot of insecurities and vulnerabilities and yet she’s also strong in the fact that she’s a big nerd, loves comics and really talented.
So in a lot of ways, I think people will have to look past the surface, and see a lot of themselves in the character. And I think that is really the success of Kamala — she has so many different aspects of her identity that I think a lot of people can relate to.”
“Not really. I think we have other characters that are hijabi Muslims, and we wanted to showcase the spectrums of the Muslim experience with Kamala and her family and her community. So Kamala does not wear a hijab but that’s one way of being a Muslim. So there are no real big challenges.
I think, if any, the big one is making sure we were authentic and we weren’t telling one kind of story, that we were being very specific about who Kamala was and is and who her family is and I think that’s one thing we tried to maintain throughout production.”
“Over the last 12 years, the type of storytelling has truly expanded across Marvel.
We’ve traditionally told big groundbreaking stories and now I think we’re still telling big groundbreaking stories, but now through a different lens — a very different perspective. And that’s what we’re very excited about — we finally get to venture into different types of storytelling because we’re telling through these different types of characters and I think it’s sort of the beginning for us. Ms Marvel is the first of her kind in the comics, and she’s going to be the first of her kind in the MCU too.”
“Absolutely but I can’t tell you what they are. There are a lot of easter eggs, a lot of hints to the comics for sure, and a lot of other references. People who know the comics will appreciate it, but if they don’t then they will go back to the comics and get some connection.
And certainly, some fun easter eggs to the rest of the MCU, which I cannot talk about, but just watch all six episodes.”
Ms. Marvel is now on Disney+