Palisadian Kevin Feige Introduces New Superhero: Ms. Marvel

By MAGNOLIA LAFLEUR | Reporter

Palisadian Kevin Feige—president of Marvel Studios—has executive produced a new series, introducing a Muslim American teenager as the main heroine.

Taking place in the Marvel Universe, “Ms. Marvel” revolves around a 16-year-old Pakistani-American student Kamala Khan, played by Iman Vellani, who, while living in New Jersey with her family, develops superpowers after being the ultimate Captain Marvel fan. A high school student, Khan has to navigate between the complications of teenage life and new superpowers, and decide if she’s prepared to live beyond her imagination and save the world.

“I’m so proud of bringing new characters to the screen and not just telling re-interpretations of characters people have seen for decades and decades,” Feige said during a press conference for the show. “I think that’s important. I want people who’ve never even considered watching a Marvel Studios production before to be excited and watch this show, and then go watch all the other ones.”

Feige’s co-executive producer for the show is Sana Amanat with head writer Bisha K. Ali.

The series debuted June 8, with the premiere episode, “Generation Why,” directed by two Belgium film directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who are helmed as the directing duo for the series. The first episode bounces between realistic action sequences intertwined with animation.

Feige is not only known for being the executive producer for films like “Guardians of the Galaxy” but has also executively produced TV shows such as “I Am Groot,” “Hawkeye,” “Moon Knight” and many others.

Stunned to have received the role, it was reportedly Vellani’s aunt who forwarded her a casting call for “Ms. Marvel,” leading her to submit a self-tape for the role of Kamala.

“I got the casting call and thought it was a scam,” Vellani shared during the press conference. “I don’t know what casting calls look like, but it turned out to be real. I sent in a very academic resume with the one photo I had of myself, and they sent back the sides for the self-tape. I was like, ‘I know exactly which comic books they pulled them from. OK, this is real. I can’t do it.’”

Vellani explained that she was making excuses for herself out of fear of failure.

“And then, at 3 a.m., the night it was due, I sent in my self-tape,” she shared. “I was like, ‘My 10-year-old self is gonna hate me if I don’t even try.’”

Two days later, she said she got a call.

“They were like, ‘Do you have a lawyer? We wanna fly you to LA,’” she continued. “And I was like, ‘I have a math test, but OK.’ The next thing I know, I’m in LA with my dad. It was the greatest trip of my life.”

“Ms. Marvel” is available for streaming on Disney+ with the next episode slated to air June 22. The six-episode series will conclude on July 13.