Just the other day, comics blogger Jeremy Conrad tweeted that the search for Kamala Khan AKA Ms. Marvel has begun. The minute the man tweeted this, well you can guess what happened next. People are still suggesting who could make for the perfect Ms. Marvel.
The search has begun… pic.twitter.com/XUuPTqBkxQ
— ManaByte (@ManaByte) September 18, 2019
Ever since the Marvel comic with the Pakistani-American Muslim superhero came out, the brown community has been asking when it will be adapted for the screen. Now that Disney has announced that Ms. Marvel will be adapted as a series for the Disney+ streaming service, the question that remains is – who will play Ms. Marvel?
The truth is that there are no prominent young Pakistani Muslim actresses in the West. That’s why representation and doing this right is crucial.
Jeremy Conrad is keen on casting an unknown for this role.
Could be an unknown.
— ManaByte (@ManaByte) September 18, 2019
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G Willow Wilson, the person responsible for co-creating Ms Marvel, also picked up on the tweet. And she got a ton of potential answers.
Hoping they actually cast a Pakistani American actress and not an Indian one just like ever other media w Pakistanis in it ever
— 🇵🇸 (@Realovetruelove) September 18, 2019
Just leave Naomi Scott alone, because I already know she will NOT play her, so stop attacking her. pic.twitter.com/nPLvVV4aZ0
— Cassie (@ChenClem) September 19, 2019
Here are some of the people that Netizens suggested should be perfect for playing Ms Marvel.
Dua Malik
Sister, please check out #ManLikeMobeen on Netflix. One of its stars (apart from me) is @Duaa_A_Karim who I’ve been advocating to play Kamala for years now!
She’s the right age and just a fantastic actor.
Also @GuzKhanOfficial would be perfect as Aamir 👌🏽 pic.twitter.com/hjqacWPB1Z— Tez (@tezilyas) September 18, 2019
This British-Pakistan is the daughter of Guz Khan in ‘Man Like Mobeen’. While her father is a creative genius with the whole brown-multicultural community rooting for him, how talented is Dua?
The girl does a fair job at being her father’s sister on-screen and she’s the right age. The thing is should we have a British actress take an American role? Then again Tom Holland is British and he became Spider-man.
2. Meesha Shafi
@itsmeeshashafi can you audition please!
— Dr A (@thetweetslayer) September 19, 2019
As much as we love this rocker gal, Meesha Shafi just isn’t built for that role. She’s cut out for ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist‘. Another problem is that Brie Larson who plays Captain Marvel is 31, while Meesha Shafi is 37. So that can’t work.
Mehwish Hayat
I can picture @MehwishHayat doing this and rocking it!!
— SMP (@S_Pardhan621) September 19, 2019
While she is the ‘Wonder Woman’ of Pakistan, again the issue is that she’s not the right age for the role. Mehwish Hayat is 36 and that would pose the same problem as with Meesha Shafi.
ALSO READ
Mehwish Hayat Is Glad Muslim Super Heroine Ms Marvel Is Coming to TV
Mia Khalifa?
https://twitter.com/MDystopian/status/1174699548570279937
The actress to play Ms. Marvel will be a Disney star…enough said. So no thanks to this suggestion.
The Unknowns
This brings us to unknown actresses, or in some cases not even actresses. These ladies should get a shot at auditions. If they are a fit, then great.
Ms. Marvel is a comic in the end. Comic fans were rooting for its adaptation for years. Now with all the hype around the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), everyone wants to jump the bandwagon. Amidst all this, someone who’s at least read the comics would be nice.
I have the perfect girl for this role!!! Also if you’re looking for Pakistani Muslim writers….I’m your girl!! 🤞 pic.twitter.com/gJ0d9SwiAW
— Bisma Parvez (@BismaPar) September 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/mirhabanana/status/1174513769109737472
What about British Pakistani?? Do we not qualify? pic.twitter.com/wDxcpKuY6w
— @num (@num_parker) September 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/ghazalairshad/status/1174495139731050496
https://twitter.com/NunezChrise/status/1174475992980541440
Even this mom wants in.
@noorulainy_ this is ur shot!
— fz (@therealeffzee) September 19, 2019
Even this batch of journalists wants to audition for the role!
@SamiaMPardhan who do you think would be perfect for this role??
— Dr A (@thetweetslayer) September 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/uhrooj/status/1174472896984621057
Then there are all these fangirls:
https://twitter.com/foxville_art/status/1174510811752128512
@SaaraChaudry would be the perfect Ms Marvel. She’s smart, talented, beautiful but most importantly she’s of Pakistani origin and unapologetically Muslim. PLEASE GET IT RIGHT @Marvel
— Fiona Ali (@FionaAli1) September 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/Saffy_I/status/1174624757758734338
Concluding Thoughts
We are keeping our fingers crossed and hope that Marvel does this right. Minority roles are often white-washed or stereotyped, which basically kills the aim behind representation. Since Ms. Marvel is being adapted as a series for Disney+, a young actress should be cast to carry through the whole way.
For those suggesting that an Indian actress be considered, this is like saying that all Japanese and Chinese people are alike (they’re not). It has to be a Pakistani-American Muslim teenager, because all brown people are not the same. Plus, her faith and Pakistani roots are part and parcel of her character growth and story.
