Meet Marvel’s new kid on the block
Ms. Marvel creator Sana Amanat introduces us to the history-making character ahead of her new TV show
SANA AMANAT REMEMBERS sitting in on a Zoom audition with Iman Vellani, the breakout star now playing Ms. Marvel, aka Kamala Khan, the character that Amanat created. “She showed me every corner of her room, and it was covered with Avengers,” she says, laughing. “Then she said, ‘Oh wait, I’m not done,’ opened up her closet, and there was more Marvel everywhere.” Amanat realised then, without question, that Vellani would be Khan, the Pakistani-american high-schooler who worships superheroes — Captain Marvel especially — before becoming one herself. “She gave me a list of feedback on every single Marvel movie,” she adds. “Kevin Feige is like her Carol Danvers.”
Danvers was the original Ms. Marvel, making her debut in 1968 before being promoted to Captain. Amanat’s reimagination of the character was introduced in 2013, and was born from her need to see a superhero who resonated with her own life. “I wanted to create a character that was relatable and fun and awkward, who happened to be to be Muslim,” she explains. Skip forward eight years, and her character is now the star of a six-part Disney+ series, helmed by British showrunner Bisha K. Ali. “It’s a historic moment,” says Amanat, who was also highly involved in the TV adaptation. “But it’s also nerveracking. I’ve given two years to this show; it’s been made with a lot of love and a lot of sweat.”
Ms. Marvel will follow Khan’s teenage life in Jersey City. “I grew up reading Nancy Drew mysteries and watching Saved By The Bell and Degrassi,” says Amanat. “I loved coming-of-age stories. It’s all about having crushes and self-discovery.” However, when Khan obtains her own cosmic superstrength and ability to manifest purple crystals via a pair of bangles, she learns that, in a similar way to Peter Parker and Miles Morales, having a dual identity is messy.
The show will set up Khan’s broader MCU future, as she’s also set to join Nia Dacosta’s Captain Marvel sequel The Marvels alongside Brie Larson’s Danvers. However, Amanat promises that this Ms. Marvel “isn’t your traditional Avenger”. “She’s not as slick and suave as some superheroes,” she adds fondly. “It’s not like when Captain America throws his shield and it comes back. She’s all over the place. I’m excited for people to get to know her.” All hail Marvel’s bright, albeit clumsy, new addition.