Thursday, August 21, 2014

Black Panther and Ms. Marvel Movies?

Ms. Marvel and Black Panther
When Marvel released prospective dates for unannounced films in the coming five years just before and during San Diego Comic-Con last month, many including us believed we’d finally see Marvel Studios lay out their plans for more diversity without sacrificing superhero history.

Unlike Fox, who wants everyone to accept their version of Johhny Storm as an African-American even if comic purists knows he is a blue-eyed blond womanizer, Marvel heard the clamor for diversity and seeks to address it properly. Possible answer would include movies featuring the Black Panther and Ms. Marvel.

Black Panther has been a subject of many headlines for long time, even before Mark Bailey was tapped to write a Black Panther script four years ago, and the original Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers, the current Captain Marvel in the comics and not Pakistani immigrant Kamala Khan) has been rumored for a cameo appearance in "The Avengers: Age of Ultron."

There are no official announcements however, regarding appearances or casting for either, let alone news for their own potential movies. IGN asked Marvel Studios president of production Kevin Feige, the face of Marvel Studios, about the Black Panther and Captain Marvel at Comic-Con and after jokingly teasing an announcement regarding the pair, Feige continued, addressing the demand for them.

Don't take that to mean fans are helping sway Feige and the other decision-makers at Marvel though. They’ve stuck to their own plan all along and will continue to.

There’s no doubt Disney-owned Marvel sees the feedback and criticisms for a lack of female lead characters. Even after 10 Marvel Studios releases, we’ve yet to see a non-white male actor as the lead. Of course, to be fair, that’s how it was in the early comics that the films are based on and it will absolutely change in the coming movies.

Black Panther for instance has already been teased in the MCU, with the character’s homeland of Wakanda popping up as an Easter Egg in "Iron Man 2," and the fictional metal alloy known as Vibranium being used in the construction of Captain America’s shield. Even the Quinjets introduced in The Avengers are – in the comics, anyway – were designed by Black Panther. There were scenes of "The Avengers 2" shot in South Africa which raised some suspicion as to whether director Joss Whedon could introduce Wakanda in the sequel.

With rumors of Captain Marvel being in early drafts of the script for "The Avengers: Age of Ultron," could we see the film introduce both her and Black Panther? Is that why we've yet to hear what movies are coming from Marvel in 2016-18 as to not spoil the surprise?

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