Annlyel James 
Annlyel James cannot wait to be reunited with Carol Danvers in THE MARVELS. Here’s why we should go higher, further, and faster again.
If you’ve been on the internet, you may have noticed the negative buzz surrounding the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its upcoming new movie, THE MARVELS. From the unceasing wave of negativity surrounding the film to that “shocking” tell-all article released by Variety painting a rather dismal picture of the MCU. Not to mention the news that The Marvels is heading toward the lowest opening weekend in the MCU’s history. In short, it’s been a rough couple of weeks to be a Marvel fan.
SUPERHERO FATIGUE?
I understand that there is such a thing as superhero fatigue and that the love surrounding this franchise has dwindled since Endgame. But that still doesn’t justify the overbearing negativity that has become the focal point of this franchise. Negativity, unfortunately, drives more clicks, and because of this, racism, misogyny, and just downright meanness have begun to dominate the entertainment space. Just look at YouTube which has become a haven of despicable clickbait videos designed to bash any franchise that has the nerve to be diverse or focus on female characters. A double whammy of an issue for The Marvels.
So, because there has been so much negativity surrounding this film in the past few weeks, I wanted to share why I’m excited for The Marvels this Friday. And maybe why you should be excited too.
1. GIRL POWER
If you had told me ten years ago that I would be watching an MCU film with three female leads and directed by a Black woman I would’ve smiled at the possibility. Now that we’re here, it’s not lost on me how special this moment is in superhero cinema history. It was only four years ago that the MCU had its first female-led superhero film in Captain Marvel. The film would go on to make over a billion dollars at the worldwide box office. And would once again prove to studios that maybe audiences were ready to digest female-led stories in huge IP franchises.
Since then, we’ve had several female-led installments in the MCU. WandaVision, Black Widow, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Eternals, Ms. Marvel, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Unsurprisingly, each of these installments has been some of the most enjoyable in the Multiverse Saga so far. And now we’re about to get The Marvels.
KAMALA KHAN
Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan is a heartwarming addition to the MCU with her bubbly energy, genuine Marvel nerd qualities, and dedication to the authenticity of the character. Teyonah Paris’s Monica Rambeau is the type of character that could go on to become one of the most interesting heroes in the MCU. Her connection to Captain Marvel and her particular power set is something that’s going to be fun to explore in The Marvels. And enough can’t be said about Brie Larson. The Oscar-winning actress nails Captain Marvel’s confidence and power. But it looks like it will be The Marvels that might finally make audiences warm up to her as a character as we see her confront her past mistakes.
In a few days, I will be able to see these powerful women using their awesome abilities to save the day on an IMAX screen. I couldn’t be more thrilled.
2. NIA DACOSTA
One of the reasons why I will always be an MCU fan is their commitment to diversity. Not just in front of the camera, but behind the screen as well. There’s nothing like watching a major blockbuster with a diverse lead at the helm to save the day. And it’s especially nice seeing diverse directors bring these stories to life. When they announced The Marvels, I was already excited. But when they revealed that Nia Dacosta would be the one helming the sequel my enthusiasm soared. I understand how important this moment is.
Black female directors are some of the most overlooked creatives in the movie industry. We know about Spike Lee and Tyler Perry, Lee Daniels, Steve McQueen, Jordan Peele, and Barry Jenkins. Or even John Singleton. But who is the black female equivalent of these iconic directors? It’s taking a while for you to think of one, isn’t it? The answer is there aren’t any. To this day, there has not been a single black female director to be nominated for Best Director at the Oscars. And has a black woman ever directed a superhero movie? Once again, the answer is no. Gina Prince-Bythewood was set to direct a Spider-Man spinoff film called Silver and Black a few years ago. But that project never materialized.
With this perspective in mind, you may begin to understand why Nia Dacosta’s opportunity to direct a film as massive as The Marvels is such a big deal. This never happens, and I am so ready to support this film and see her fingerprint all over this action-packed adventure this Friday.
3. RETURN OF THE X-MEN?
When Disney acquired 20th Century Fox a few years ago there was no doubt in my mind that we would begin to start seeing the X-Men filtering into the MCU sooner rather than later. Sure enough, in last year’s Multiverse of Madness, the film included a jaw-dropping cameo with Patrick Stewart’s Professor X using his iconic yellow levitating wheelchair from the 90s’ X-Men cartoon. It was a sign that Marvel Studios was finally beginning to take advantage of the chance to introduce X-Men into the franchise.
Then, out of nowhere, it was revealed that not only would we be getting a Marvel Studios Deadpool movie, but that it would include Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine! Namor and Kamala Khan have been confirmed as mutants. And now it seems, thanks to some rumors, as well as a suspicious TV spot for The Marvels, that Nia Dacosta’s sequel may include an X-Men tease. Most likely in a post-credits scene.
If this happens, not only will this movie be even more enjoyable, but it will solidify itself as an essential stepping-stone to Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars.
RELEASE
In conclusion, I’m counting down the days to see this movie.
Carol Danvers returns to the MCU in cinemas on Friday. Will you be lining up for this new adventure? Sound off in the comments below. Subscribe to our newsletter at the top of our homepage to stay up-to-date with all the latest movie news and reviews from Future of the Force.
Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
