Marvel Studios Debuts Trailer Introducing First Muslim Superhero, Ms. Marvel

Video screenshot via Marvel Entertainment

As multifaceted as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or even the multiverse, is portrayed to be, viewers aren’t seeing as much representation as they’d like. Things are looking up now, as Marvel Studios has introduced its first Muslim superhero with the release of the Ms. Marvel trailer.

The film centers around Kamala Khan (starring Iman Vellani), a South Asian American girl from New Jersey who’s a geek by all accounts. She loves video games, superhero stories, and writing fan fiction. Little does she know she’d be a part of this world too.

Kamala develops superpowers that deviate from the ones portrayed in the comics. Traditionally, she possesses the ability to shift the size and shape of her body, but the movie depicts her powers to be energy-based, harnessing the energy around her to create forcefields, among other things.

As noted on NextShark, the Canadian-born Vellani, 19, finds parallels with her onscreen portrayal in that she is also the daughter of Pakistani Muslim immigrants.

Taking to Twitter, Mark Ruffalo (who played the Hulk), applauded the inclusive narrative and welcomed Vellani into the Marvel family. “Love you, Marvel, for reflecting the world we live in,” he wrote.

Marvel breaks new ground! Love you, @Marvel for reflecting the world we live in. Welcome to the family, Kamala! pic.twitter.com/IkoRkKsZGx

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) March 15, 2022

Ms. Marvel, like the American Chinese characters of Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, will return to the MCU after her origin story. Following this film, she’ll be headed to Captain Marvel 2, where she’ll team up with Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), her character’s role model.

[via NextShark and Sky News, video and cover image via Marvel Entertainment]