Whenever a story breaks about an actor being “in talks” for a big role, that usually means the studio is hashing things out with an agent. These stories exist to help with contract negotiations and to judge an initial reaction to the potential casting. As far as today’s news is concerned, that reaction is a resounding, “Yes!”
Brie Larson has emerged as the front-runner for Carol Danvers a.k.a. Captain Marvel. Though other actresses have been more prominent in the minds of fans — Ronda Rousey has been campaigning for the role for a while — Larson comes as a welcome surprise. With her recent Academy Award for Best Actress, Larson is one of the most sought-after actresses in the business. Disney/Marvel have a huge win on their hands by casting her because Larson is insanely talented. She’s also no stranger to the comic book world as she previously played Envy Adams in Edgar Wright’s adaptation of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. It’s also likely that she crossed paths with the Russo brothers during her stint on Community so she’s got one foot in the door already.
Captain Marvel is going to be a big deal for Marvel Studios. Not only is the character a fan favorite but she will also be the House of Ideas’ first swing at a feature film that’s anchored by a female lead hero. Not to mention that the character carries the company’s namesake, adding another layer of importance to getting Carol Danvers right. Luckily, casting Brie Larson is an enormous step in the right direction with the character. Disney/Marvel will actually be able to bill Captain Marvel as starring an Academy Award winner. Of course, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has had plenty of former Oscar winners in its ranks, but having your lead actor be one in a film that she’ll be the focus of is going to go a long way.
Carol Danvers is likely to be introduced in the third Avengers film before headlining her own solo movie, so I’m sure we’ll be getting confirmation of Larson’s casting sooner rather than later. In the meantime, go watch Room. If you have any doubts that she’s the right person for the job, her performance in that film will dispel any such notion. And if that’s not your bag, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is an utter treat and she kills it as Envy Adams. If you weren’t excited for Captain Marvel already, this is news that should get your hype train going.
Variety first reported this story.
