Disney announced a Ms. Marvel series for Disney+ at the D23 Expo and the desi community particularly Muslims can’t stop talking about it. Now even Pakistani actress Mehwish Hayat is appreciating Hollywood for addressing Muslim representation.
The 36-year-old actress is glad that ‘Hollywood is taking a step forward for Muslim representation‘. Mehwish Hayat still pointed out that there’s a long way to go.
Great news! Glad to see that the tide is turning. Hollywood seems to be accepting the problem. Long way to go, but it is a start. Hope others will also take heed about representation.https://t.co/dmyz7sSddr
— Mehwish Hayat TI (@MehwishHayat) September 5, 2019
Recently the actress addressed the vilification of Muslim characters in Hollywood and Bollywood films whilst accepting ‘Pride of Performance’ award in Norway.
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She called for accurate representation and breaking down stereotypes. Other stars have called for inclusivity in Hollywood since long. The #WhiteOscars boycott was a notable event in this regard.
Hollywood and Representation
At one point, it was announced that Leonardo DiCaprio would be playing the Muslim poet Rumi in a film about the legendary Sufi poet. The brown Muslim community pointed out that positive Muslim roles are wrongfully handed out to white actors, thus eroding representation. Meanwhile, Muslim actors are easily cast as villains.
Disney tried to change that first by casting Egyptian-American actor Mena Massoud as Aladdin. It is hoped it does the same with Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel.
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The comics Ms.Marvel follow the story of a Pakistani-American born teenager in Jersey City who possesses shapeshifting superpowers. The brown Muslim superhero is inspired by an established super-heroine Captain Marvel to get into the ‘superhero business’.
So far it has not been announced who will be cast as Ms Marvel. There were speculations that Mindy Kaling might be involved, but The Office actress shot down the rumors.
Mindy even said that the role should go to an unknown, but Disney should make sure they do it right.
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Meanwhile, when some Indian fans suggested Priyanka Chopra for the role, Pakistani fans really weren’t having any of it.
She was voiced by Priyanka Chopra in the animated version..mehwish please raise your voice on this matter to @Disney & @MarvelStudios so this doesn't happen again..a Pakistani/American girl deserves this role..not a Indian.. representation matters!
— GulluButt (@GulluBu93297942) September 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/MedihaMC/status/1169508166155067392
Bisha K. Ali, staff writer on Four Weddings and a Funeral will be the series’ showrunner. Good to know Disney has a brown Muslim woman running the show off-screen.
On the contrary, Sweetness in The Belly cast Dakota Fanning as a ‘White Ethiopian Muslim‘. It’s safe to say film-makers should take notes from Disney.
Once again, Hollywood steps up to tell the urgent, unheard, timely stories of, uh, white people. https://t.co/1VrD6zAFRi
— fatima bhutto (@fbhutto) September 4, 2019
It is an attempt to rip Pakistan of its culture by promiting muslim women roles in movies