Iman Vellani booked the role of Kamala Khan — the Pakistani American teen superhero also known as Ms. Marvel — it was the first acting gig for the 19-year-old newcomer.
But in assuming the mantle, Vellani also took on the responsibility of playing the first titular Muslim superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.“I’m honestly so privileged that Marvel trusts me to bring a character like Kamala to life,” Vellani tells Variety.
At the same time, she says, “There’s so much weight that comes with being the first of anything.”The advice she received from Marvel leadership was simply to be herself. “They’re like, ‘You don’t go to work thinking that you’re the first Muslim superhero; you just go to work and have fun,’” Vellani recalls. “That’s what I keep telling myself: I don’t really have to go out of my way and advocate for Muslim and Pakistani representation,” she explains. “This is one story of one girl.
We cannot represent all two billion Muslims and South Asians, but this is definitely a good start.”That methodology has been the keystone for the core creative team behind “Ms.
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