Ms. Marvel (TV series)
Ms. Marvel is an American television miniseries created by Bisha K. Ali for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics featuring the character Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel. It is the seventh television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. Ali serves as head writer with Adil & Bilall (Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah) leading the directing team.
Iman Vellani stars as Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel, with Matt Lintz, Yasmeen Fletcher, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh, Laurel Marsden, Azhar Usman, Rish Shah, Arian Moayed, Alysia Reiner, Laith Nakli, Nimra Bucha, and Travina Springer also starring. The series was announced with Ali's involvement in August 2019. Vellani was cast in September 2020, with El Arbi and Fallah, Meera Menon, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy hired as the series' directors. Filming began in early November 2020, shooting in Atlanta, Georgia, and New Jersey, before concluding in Thailand in May 2021.
Ms. Marvel premiered on June 8, 2022, and will consist of six episodes, concluding on July 13. It is part of Phase Four of the MCU. The series will serve as set-up for the film The Marvels (2023), in which Vellani will reprise her role as Khan along with additional cast members from the series. The series received positive reviews, with particular praise for Vellani's performance.
Premise[edit]
Kamala Khan, a 16-year-old fangirl of the Avengers, particularly Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel, struggles to fit in until she gains her own powers.[1]
Cast and characters[edit]
- Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel:
A 16-year-old Pakistani-American high school student from Jersey City who is an aspiring artist and avid gamer, and writes superhero fan fiction about heroes such as Captain Marvel.[1][2] Khan gains the ability to harness cosmic energy and create hard light constructs from a magical bangle.[3][4] Co-executive producer Sana Amanat said Khan brought a "grounded perspective" to the MCU with "bright and eager eyes". Vellani noted Khan enjoys the simplicity of a life with powers, instead of worrying about high school, boys and relationships, family drama, and culture and religion.[5] She also added that the character "felt so much like me" due to their similar background, ethnicity, and love for the Marvel universe.[6] - Matt Lintz as Bruno Carrelli: Kamala's best friend.[7]
- Yasmeen Fletcher as Nakia Bahadir: Kamala's close friend.[8]
- Zenobia Shroff as Muneeba Khan: Kamala's mother and Yusuf's wife.[9]
- Mohan Kapur as Yusuf Khan: Kamala's father and Muneeba's husband.[9]
- Saagar Shaikh as Aamir Khan: Kamala's older brother.[10]
- Laurel Marsden as Zoe Zimmer: The most popular girl at Kamala's high school.[11]
- Azhar Usman[12] as Najaf: A halal food vendor acquainted with Kamala.
- Rish Shah as Kamran: A boy Kamala has a crush on.[9]
- Arian Moayed as P. Cleary: A Department of Damage Control (DODC) agent.[13]
- Alysia Reiner as Sadie Deever: A DODC agent working with Cleary.[13]
- Laith Nakli as Sheikh Abdullah: An imam from Jersey City.[14]
- Nimra Bucha as Najma:[15] Kamran's mother.
- Travina Springer as Tyesha Hillman: Kamala's sister-in-law and Aamir's wife.[14]
Other cast members include: Fawad Khan as Hasan;[15] Adaku Ononogbo as Fariha;[16] and Aramis Knight as Kareem / Red Dagger, a vigilante who wears a red bandana and wields throwing knives.[7][17] Additional guest stars include Jordan Firstman as Gabe Wilson, the school counselor. Anjali Bhimani and Sophia Mahmud as Aunties Ruby and Zara,[18][citation needed] and Samina Ahmad as Khan's grandmother Sana.[citation needed] Alyy Khan,[19] Mehwish Hayat,[20] Farhan Akhtar,[21] Asfandyar Khan,[22] Ali Alsaleh, and Vardah Aziz have been cast in undisclosed roles.[23] Ryan Penagos, vice president and creative executive at Marvel New Media, has a cameo appearance as the cosplay competition host at AvengerCon.[24] Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah make cameo appearances as a man in the mosque, and one of the "Mosque Bros", respectively.
Production[edit]
Development[edit]
Marvel Entertainment's Creative Consultant Joe Quesada said in September 2016 that there were plans to explore the character of Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel in other media following her unusually rapid success and popularity among comic book readers.[28] Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige said in May 2018 that a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) project based on Kamala Khan was "in the works",[29][30] and would follow the release of the film Captain Marvel (2019) as Khan is inspired by that film's title character Carol Danvers.[29]
By August 2019, Marvel Studios had begun development on a Ms. Marvel television series for the streaming service Disney+, with Bisha K. Ali hired to serve as the head writer after working as a writer on the series Loki.[31][32] Ali approached Kevin Wright, one of the Marvel Studios executives on Loki, while they were working together to get an opportunity to meet about Ms. Marvel.[32] Ms. Marvel was officially announced at the 2019 D23 conference.[33] In September 2020, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (credited as Adil & Bilall[25]) were hired to direct two episodes of the series, with Meera Menon hired to direct one episode, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy hired to direct three episodes;[34][35] Menon and Obaid-Chinoy ultimately directed two episodes each.[25] Ali, El Arbi, and Fallah serve as executive producers on the series and worked closely with Marvel Studios to develop it,[36][37] with Kamala Khan co-creator Sana Amanat also serving as an executive producer.[37][25] Marvel Studios' Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Victoria Alonso, and Brad Winderbaum also serve as executive producers.[25]
Writing[edit]
In addition to Ali, writers for the series include Kate Gritmon, Freddy Syborn, A. C. Bradley, Matthew Chauncey, Sabir Pirzada, Fatimah Asghar, and Will Dunn.[26] Bradley and Chauncey were respectively the head writer, and story editor and writer for What If...?,[38][39] with Bradley also serving as a consulting producer on Ms. Marvel,[39]: 6 while Pirzada was a writer for Moon Knight.[40] Ali believed having Amanat as an executive producer on the series allowed them to "stay true to the character" from the comic books, while adding "something new, with a freshness, vitality and contemporary edge".[41] Ali called her time working on Loki as "good training ground" to serve as Ms. Marvel's head writer, learning what creative freedoms Marvel Studios allowed for each series to inhabit their own part of the MCU, while still being bounded by the overarching storytelling.[32]
In Ms. Marvel, Khan gains the ability to harness cosmic energy and create constructs from a magical bangle,[3][4] which differs from the shapeshifting abilities that she has in the comics. Feige explained that the Inhuman source of her abilities in the comics did not "match" with the timeline and events of the MCU, so her powers were adjusted to be related to her Pakistani heritage. They were also brought closer to the cosmic powers of the other heroes in the film The Marvels (2023), in which Vellani co-stars. Feige added that the character's "giant hands and arms" would still appear in the series "in spirit".[42] The change in Khan's powers was not part of Ali's initial pitch, with Ali adding it was a "group" decision to alter them and echoed Feige in saying the change was done to align the character with what has been established in the MCU.[41] Amanat and another of the character's co-creators, G. Willow Wilson, both were consulted on and supported the change, with Amanat feeling that it was "fun to give Kamala different kinds of powers that feel big in scope and cinematic... the essence of what the powers are in the comics is there, both from a metaphorical standpoint and from a visual standpoint."[30]
Ms. Marvel is a coming-of-age story, with Amanat noting the series took inspiration from the character's comics, creating the MCU version of the comics' "quirkiness and stylistic distinction" and being "told through the lens of Kamala's experience and her wild imagination". She also described Khan's life and world as "naturally colorful" given Jersey City is "a pretty crazy and vibrant and multicultural place". Carol Danvers is Khan's inspiration to become a hero, having seen her almost defeat Thanos during the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019). Amanat believed it was important to tell a story about who your heroes are for a young person of color, and exploring what that does "to your sense of self".[30] Ali wanted to mix the "whimsical and magical" qualities from Ms. Marvel's comics with American high school films, being inspired by John Hughes's films and the films 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), Lady Bird (2017), Eighth Grade (2018), and Booksmart (2019),[5] as well as the MCU film Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan also was an inspiration for the series.[32]
Casting[edit]
In September 2020, newcomer Iman Vellani was cast in the lead role of Kamala Khan.[2] Her aunt had forwarded her a casting call for the role, which lead to Vellani submitting a self-tape, before being asked to audition at Marvel Studios' offices in Los Angeles, California.[6] She had an in-person screen test in February 2020, as well as a virtual one over Zoom in June 2020 before landing the role.[43] Set photos later that November revealed Matt Lintz had been cast in the series.[44] The next month, Marvel confirmed that Lintz had been cast,[45] portraying Bruno Carrelli,[7] along with Yasmeen Fletcher as Nakia Bahadir;[8] Zenobia Shroff as Muneeba Khan; Mohan Kapur as Yusuf Khan;[9] Saagar Shaikh as Aamir Khan;[46][10] Azhar Usman in an undisclosed role;[12] Aramis Knight as Kareem / Red Dagger;[7] Rish Shah as Kamran, the male lead of the series;[47][48] Travina Springer as Tyesha Hillman; Laith Nakli as Sheikh Abdullah;[14] and Nimra Bucha as Najma.[15] Newcomer Laurel Marsden was cast in the role of Zoe Zimmer in February 2021.[11]
Also in February 2021, Alyy Khan and Alysia Reiner were revealed to have also been cast in the series,[19][49] with Reiner portraying Department of Damage Control (DODC) agent Sadie Deever.[13] Fawad Khan revealed that he was part of the cast in December 2021,[50] appearing as Hasan,[15] and Mehwish Hayat was reported a month later to also have a role in the series.[20] In March 2022, Adaku Ononogbo was revealed to be cast as Fariha,[16] while Anjali Bhimani was revealed as auntie Ruby,[51][18] a recurring role, after previously appearing in the Marvel Television series Runaways.[51] In May 2022, Arian Moayed was revealed to be cast in the series,[52][25] reprising his role as DODC agent P. Cleary from Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).[13] Later that month, Farhan Akhtar was revealed to be appearing in an undisclosed guest role,[21] while Asfandyar Khan was also revealed as part of the cast in an undisclosed role.[22] In June, Jordan Firstman was revealed to have been cast as Gabe Wilson, named as a homage to G. Willow Wilson,[53] while Ali Alsaleh, Samina Ahmad, and Vardah Aziz were also revealed to have been cast in undisclosed roles.[23]
Design[edit]
Arjun Bhasin serves as the costume designer for the series.[41] Khan's Ms. Marvel costume was inspired by burkinis and shalwar kameez, with subtle "cultural details" in the fabric.[54]: 89 Amanat credited Bhasin for incorporating "cool textures" to make the costume feel South Asian in "a very subtle way", and noted the lightning bolt on the costume was updated from the comic version of the costume.[41] Christopher Glass serves as production designer.[55]
Filming[edit]
El Arbi and Fallah, Menon, and Obaid-Chinoy, directed the series.[34] Filming began in early November 2020 at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia,[56][57] with additional filming at Blackhall Studios and Areu Brothers Studios.[58] The series was filmed under the working title Jersey.[59] Robrecht Heyvaert served as the cinematographer for El Arbi and Fallah,[60] with Carmen Cabana cinematographer for Menon,[61][better source needed] and Jules O'Loughlin serving as cinematographer for Obaid-Chinoy.[62]
The animated sequences were not scripted, with El Arbi and Fallah conceiving them as a way "to get inside Kamala Khan's head and capture her dream world and fantasy world",[60] and for viewers to see the world "through her eyes".[54]: 88 These moments were a way to translate the vibrancy the directors enjoyed from the comics into the series, and were inspired by the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018).[63] The integration of the animated elements took a lot of planning during pre-production, and did not allow the directors any ability to improvise how those sequences were shot.[63] El Arbi noted the other directors also enjoyed using them for their episodes.[60] The duo were also inspired by Spike Lee and making New Jersey a character in the series like Lee does with New York City in his films,[63] Steven Spielberg, anime (particularly for the visual effects),[54]: 89 John Hughes's films,[63] the films Booksmart and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010),[54]: 89 [63] the early 1990s television series Parker Lewis Can't Lose and Saved by the Bell, and Adrian Alphona and Jamie McKelvie's art from the Ms. Marvel comics.[63] El Arbi and Fallah concluded their episodes on March 5, 2021.[64]
Secondary filming occurred in Hudson County, New Jersey, from March to early April.[58][65] Vellani and Shah continued to film scenes in Atlanta through late April and early May.[48][66] Obaid-Chinoy began filming the fourth and fifth episodes in Thailand by March 23, specifically in Bangkok and at the Studio Park facilities.[67][62] Given the series' strict COVID-19 protocols, Ms. Marvel was able to obtain a waiver from the Thai government to continue filming in the country throughout April and May 2021 despite new restrictions put in place in April that suspended other film and television productions. The cast and crew of 450 people were divided into three bubbles in order for production to continue if a positive test was found in one of the bubbles. Filming for the series concluded in Thailand in early May 2021.[67] Reshoots, with Obaid-Chinoy directing, occurred at the end of January 2022.[68]
Post-production[edit]
Visual effects for the series were created by Digital Domain, Framestore, FuseFX, Method Studios, RISE, SSVFX, Trixter, and Perception.[69]
Music[edit]
In May 2022, Laura Karpman was revealed to have composed the score for the series, after previously composing for What If...? and being hired to score The Marvels. Karpman said she immersed herself in Khan's "rich musical heritage".[70] The series features a number of existing songs, with Ali believing music was "an integral part" of adapting the character to the screen, and credited Amanat for having a strong vision of which songs were needed and should be used. Amanat called Ms. Marvel a "great platform" to showcase South Asian music, with the selections a "blend" much in the way the character of Khan is as well.[41] Karpman's score for the series will be released digitally by Marvel Music and Hollywood Records in two volumes: music from the first three episodes will be released on June 22, 2022, and music from the last three episodes will be released on July 13. The series' main theme, "Ms. Marvel Suite", was released as a single on June 7.[71]
Marketing[edit]
A first look at the series with early footage, testimonials about the impact the character has had, and clips of Vellani's audition was shown at Disney's Investor Day in December 2020. Josh Weiss at Syfy Wire called it "absolutely priceless" seeing the exact moment Vellani learned she had been cast as Khan.[37] Additional footage was shown during Disney+ Day on November 12, 2021.[72][1]
The first trailer for the series was released on March 15, 2022.[3] Many commentators noted the change to Khan's powers from the comics (in which she has shape-shifting abilities) to being able to harness cosmic energy and form constructs with magical bangles,[3][4][73][74] believed to be similar to the Nega-Bands from the comics.[75] Linda Codega at Gizmodo said the trailer was "as adorable, fun, and exciting as the comics[, full] of absolutely excellent directorial decisions" and that the series looked like "a tone-perfect mashup of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Sky High".[76] Gabrielle Sanchez of The A.V. Club said the trailer offered "an illustrative guide to Kamala Khan".[74] The final shot of the trailer, as well as a teaser poster also released for the series, pays homage to the cover of Ms. Marvel (2014) #5.[9][77]
A Fan's Guide to Ms. Marvel, a documentary short featuring an exclusive look at the production of the series and interviews from the filmmaking team and Vellani, was released on Disney+ on June 1, 2022.[78][25] In January 2021, Marvel announced their "Marvel Must Haves" program, which reveals new toys, games, books, apparel, home decor, and other merchandise related to each episode of Ms. Marvel following an episode's release,[79] which started on June 7, 2022.[80] A QR code was included in the first episode linking viewers to a website to access a free digital comic of Ms. Marvel (2014) #1, following a similar program with Moon Knight.[81][82]
Release[edit]
Ms. Marvel debuted on Disney+ on June 8, 2022,[3] and will consist of six episodes,[67] releasing weekly until July 13.[27] The red carpet premiere occurred on June 2 at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles.[83] The series was originally scheduled to debut in late 2021,[45] but following the announcement of Hawkeye premiering in late November 2021, Aaron Couch of The Hollywood Reporter said it was "unclear" if Ms. Marvel would also still release in 2021, given Hawkeye would still be releasing into December and it was "unlikely" two Marvel Studios series would release at the same time.[84] In August 2021, Matt Webb Mitovich of TVLine felt it was "very safe to assume" Ms. Marvel would premiere in early 2022,[85] with it confirmed the following month to be moving to 2022.[86] In November 2021, it was confirmed to be releasing in mid-2022,[1] with the June 2022 premiere confirmed in March 2022.[3] Ms. Marvel is part of Phase Four of the MCU.[87]
The series will receive a three-part theatrical release across Pakistan through licenser HKC Entertainment, due to Disney+ not being available in the country at that time. The first two episodes will release on June 16, 2022, followed by the third and fourth episodes on June 30, and the last two episodes on July 14
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