The Marvel Cinematic Universe will have its first-ever Muslim superhero on screen in two days. Ms Marvel, played by 19-year-old Pakistani-Canadian Iman Vellani, has already generated a buzz for the same reason.
Vellani plays Kamala Khan, a New Jersey teen who is obsessed with the Avengers and their heroic deeds. While she is discouraged from acting like a hero, the nerdy girl soon discovers that she also possesses superpowers. The actress says she relates to her character because she is also obsessed with comics and superheroes.
When asked about being able to portray the first Muslim superhero of MCU, Vellani told The Guardian that Ms Marvel is a monumental show in terms of representation. She added that it is the first MCU show showcasing religion and school-life balance.
Vellani says she related to the characters very much because her normal day schedule involves going to school and mosque. She believes it is important to showcase a child of immigrant parents who is proud of their culture.
She noted that Muslim immigrant children need to see a character who doesn't neglect their religion or feel the need to separate themselves from religion or family or culture to become their own person. "The main theme of the show is to subvert expectations and throw away all the labels and become your own person".
The actress considers the show to be a personal journey because she felt disconnected from her culture and religion while growing up in Canada. "I didn't have any brown friends who weren't from my mosque". She recalls learning about her ancestry while filming Ms Marvel. "That is a special thing I get to share with my character".
Marvel Studios brought together many actors and team members from Muslim or Pakistani backgrounds for the show.
Ms Marvel is set to release on Disney+ Hotstar on June 8.