With Marvel’s first Muslim superhero set to join the MCU, actor Riz Ahmed has offered to write the screenplay with Mindy Kaling and Kumail Nanjiani.
Ms Marvel, aka Kamala Khan and Marvel’s first Muslim superhero, was launched in the comics back in 2013. Created by Sana Amanat, Stephen Wacker, G. Willow Wilson, and Adrian Alphona, Kamala Khan became Marvel’s first Muslim character to headline her own comic book. She made her first appearance in Captain Marvel in August 2013, before starring in the solo series Ms. Marvel in February 2014. In the comic books, Ms Marvel’s refers to her alter-ego Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American teenager from New Jersey. The character devotedly followed the career of Captain Marvel and went by the codename Ms Marvel once she discovered her own ability of changing shape.
According to recent reports, Ms Marvel is set to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following the success of the comics. Avengers: Infinity War producer Kevin Feige confirmed the news in an interview with BBC.
“Captain Marvel’s shooting right now with Brie Larson,” he informed. “Ms. Marvel, which is another character in the comic books, the Muslim hero who is inspired by Captain Marvel, is definitely sort of in the works. We have plans for that once we’ve introduced Captain Marvel to the world.”
Though Feige did not reveal much, he shared that Ms Marvel’s appearance will follow the Captain Marvel movie, starring Brie Larson, which is due for release in 2019.
If this isn’t enough to excite you, there is more to it as per recent developments. Emmy-award winning British-Pakistani actor, rapper and activist Riz Ahmed has offered to co-write the screenplay for Ms Marvel along with Mindy Kaling and Kumail Nanjiani. In response, Riz Ahmed took to Twitter to reach out fellow actors Mindy Kaling and Kumail Nanjiani for the project.
He tweeted, “So when do @MarvelStudios want me @mindykaling @kumailn to get started on the Ms Marvel screenplay?” to which A Wrinkle in Time star Mindy Kaling quickly responded, “Riz! I am obsessed with this comic book, I’ve read them all. I love Kamala Khan.”
Ahmed is a British-Pakistani, Kaling has Indian heritage while Nanjiani is Pakistani-American, and given their respective backgrounds, we certainly believe that a diverse creative team would suit Kamala’s tale as a young Pakistani-American Muslim superhero on the fringes of society. This definitely has us excited!
