While Marvel Studios has already found numerous men to premiere in its Phase 3 films, one very important role has yet to be cast: Captain Marvel. Ever the fighter, MMA champion Ronda Rousey has flooded her social media channels with fan art, vying for the coveted role as the female hero.
It all started during a recent Reddit AMA session with Rousey. When asked by fans what superhero she would most like to play, Rousey responded, "Well… a lot of the good ones have been taken, but I’d like to vie for Miss Marvel." After this session, she began a not so subtle campaign for the as of yet uncast role, posting fan-made images of her as the female superhero to her Instagram.
For those of you unaware, Carol Danvers – AKA Ms. Marvel, or Captain Marvel – receives superhuman abilities after being caught in the explosion of a piece of Kree technology. Endowed with increased strength, durability, flight, and the ability to discharge blasts of energy, Danvers becomes the hero known as Captain Marvel, and eventually becomes a member of the Avengers.
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to mature and expand, the studio has sought out some top-notch talent to fill the void left by the inevitable departure of men like Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans. Rousey has established herself as a household name over the last year with her winning record in the ring, her appearances in Hollywood films like The Expendables 3 and Furious 7, and even her feud with Floyd Mayweather. Such a high profile – combined with her impressive physicality – could actually make her a viable candidate.
Rousey faces stiff competition as numerous actresses have been rumored for the coveted role, including: Charlize Theron, and Emily Blunt. In terms of raw acting talent, the MMA fighter definitely lacks the acting pedigree of the others in the running, but it would not mark the first time Marvel gambled with their casting decisions – see: Tony Stark, Peter Quill, and Scott Lang.
Captain Marvel represents an important film for Marvel Studios. Despite the presence of strong women in their universe – Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) – they have yet to produce a movie headlined by a female character, often relegating them to sidekicks or love interests. This issue was recently compounded by an outcry against the lack of promotional material for Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) despite her place among the Avenger’s roster.
With Wonder Woman slated to appear in the upcoming Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, and the recent success the female-centric Mad Max: Fury Road, Marvel needs make sure they cast a woman who can do such a strong character justice.
Captain Marvel will hit theaters July 6, 2018.
