After a decade of Marvel Cinematic Universe stories, audiences will soon finally see a female-led superhero film from the studio, as Brie Larson suits up as Captain Marvel in early 2019. Set in the mid-1990s, the film will follow Carol Danvers while she is in an elite Kree organization known as the Starforce. As Carol also has roots in the Air Force, the film will also feature her close-knit friendship with fellow Air Force fighter pilot, Maria Rambeau, played by Lashana Lynch. Maria is also a single mother whose character has rich potential in the MCU with a look back at the comics. Lynch recently described her exciting character in Captain Marvel thusly:
Maria's got a strength that's undeniable, in that you don't feel like you need to help her. She is thrown into many a situation in this movie that she's never been a part of, never seen, never experienced --- and she just learns it, immediately. She's very resilient and very strong.
In the interview with Entertainment Weekly, Lashana Lynch explained that Maria Rambeau and Carol Danvers have flown together for years. The actress has had brief roles on various television shows such as ABC's Still Star-Crossed, but her role as Maria will certainly be a career highlight. Maria has a young daughter named Monica, who in the comics grows up to be one of the most prominent African-American female Marvel characters, as she is also the first African-American to join and lead the Avengers. Monica Rambeau is known as the first Captain Marvel before Carol Danvers (who was previously best known as Ms. marvel) took the name in 2012. Now, Monica most popularly goes by Photon in the comics, which is also Maria's Air Force call sign in Captain Marvel, as displayed on her aircraft.
While the potential for Monica Rambeau/Photon to make her debut in the MCU is unlikely to happen in Captain Marvel since the film is set in the '90s, Monica could be ready to suit up in time for Avengers 4 or MCU films to follow that take place in present day when she is a grown woman. In the comics, before becoming a harbor patrol officer with energy-manipulating powers, she grows up in New Orleans, and Captain Marvel took its production to the city earlier this summer, originally having fans speculating about Lashana Lynch's role. While Captain Marvel won't be an origin story for Carol Danvers, it could be a bit an origin for Photon, no matter how small. Lynch also told EW about the female dynamic on set. In her words:
There's a certain level of female sisterhood that I haven't seen in a superhero film before, that we have in abundance.
After seeing the power of Black Panther, Lashana Lynch also mentioned the importance she feels to depict a positive African-American character that the black community can trust. Among the excitement of the female-led Captain Marvel, get ready for Lynch as Maria, also alongside Jude Law and Samuel L. Jackson, among many others. The movie is coming to theaters on March 8, 2019.
