Deadline is exclusively reporting that newcomer Iman Vellani has been cast in the title role of the upcoming Marvel Studios series Ms. Marvel at Disney+.
The series focuses on Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American teenager based in New Jersey. In the comics, Khan/Ms. Marvel first appeared in 2014, becoming Marvel’s first Muslim superhero to lead her own comic.
As stated by Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige back at the D23 Expo, when it was announced that Ms. Marvel series was in development, Kamala Khan will not only have her own series, but she will be included in future films moving forward in the MCU. Khan’s abilities are described as polymorphous, meaning that she can stretch and have the ability to change her shape.
The report states that the plan was always to stay true to the character in finding the right actress to play the role, even if it meant offering it to someone that was not well known to the public.
The series is being written by Bisha K. Ali, who also serves as showrunner, with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Meera Menon attached to direct episodes on the series.