Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani are ready to take flight.
The three actresses share exclusive details about their upcoming superhero epic from high-flying stunts to feline costars.
Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, shaking her head.
Brie Larson as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel in ‘The Marvels’.Laura Radford/Marvel Studios
“She’s the one that’s always schooling us.
I wouldn’t know how old Carol is without her.
She really does the math.”
Brie Larson as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel in ‘The Marvels’.Laura Radford/Marvel Studios
Like Kamala Khan, the fresh-faced hero she plays onMs.
(Did the Nick Fury actor answer all of her inquiries?
“Of course I did,” Jackson, 74, says with a laugh.)
Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau in ‘The Marvels’.Marvel Studios
At one point, the three disagree on the first time they actually met.
Was it over Zoom?
Was it filming a Disney promo video?
Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel in ‘The Marvels’.Laura Radford/Marvel Studios
Iman is usually right.
“I just say things with enough conviction,” Vellani deadpans, “and they believe me.”
The conversation is a mix of gushing praise for one another’s talents and the occasional playful insult.
Director Nia DaCosta on the set of ‘The Marvels’.Laura Radford/Marvel Studios
“It was a very sisterly bond on set,” DaCosta, 33, says of her leads.
“It was really fun to see how their relationship mirrors their relationship in the movie.”
WhenCaptain Marvelhit theaters in 2019, female-led superhero movies weren’t atotalanomaly but they were far from frequent.
Zawe Ashton as Dar-Benn in ‘The Marvels’.Marvel Studios
Instead of a traditionalCaptain Marvelsequel, the goal was to bring in even more heroes.
Marveland Monica popping up as a child in the ’90s-setCaptain Marvelbefore making her present-day debut in 2020’sWandaVision.
It’s a classic comic book quandary, forcing the three lone wolves to form a reluctant pack.
(Well, Carol and Monica are reluctant.
Kamala is downright psyched to be hanging with her super-powered idols.)
“You almost want to take on all of the burden yourself.
Goose the flerken in ‘The Marvels’.Laura Radford/Marvel Studios
So, I think this is an incredible metaphor for learning how to be in a team.
It’s a very clear example that no one person can do it all.
“That’s certainly something I can relate to.”
Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers and Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan in ‘The Marvels’.Laura Radford/Marvel Studios
“She’s like, ‘Fury, why are you calling me?
I told you not to use this [number].’
He’s like, ‘You gave it to me, so I’m gonna use it.
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in ‘The Marvels’.Laura Radford/Marvel Studios
And I’m calling you because I need your help!'”
“Carol is such a huge part of Monica’s life inCaptain Marvel,” Parris explains.
So, we have to address the elephant in the room.”
That just doesn’t happen.
It all makes for a trippy interstellar odyssey that DaCosta couldn’t wait to direct.
As a kid, she would obsessively pore over her uncle’s old Marvel issues.
Later, as a college student, she stumbled upon the originalMs.
Marvelcomics, which first introduced teenager Kamala Khan.
“I love how smart she is.
I love how strong her point of view is.
And I love that she has a very fresh take on material.”
“She has a really calm vibe, too,” Vellani adds.
“These movies are not easy to make at all.
There’s like a million, bajillion little moving pieces.
She and Mary [Livanos] did such a great job to keep morale high.
Sometimes Kevin [Feige] would be like, ‘You’re being too much of a nerd.
like stop.'”
Known for films includingVelvet BuzzsawandMr.
Almost a year later, Ashton received an unexpected phone call from a U.S. number.
It was her agents, ringing to say DaCosta was offering her a role.
“They were like, ‘No, it’s actually to join the cast ofCaptain Marvel 2.'”
He really empowered me in that way."
Rounding out the cast is one more key player one with whiskers and a long fluffy tail.
“The crew was delighted whenever the kittens were around,” Livanos says.
“It was like Christmas when we had our bigger kitten scenes.
Everyone had their own favorite.”
But not everyone bonded with the feline talent.
“I’m still allergic,” Larson says, sadly.
“I hope that changes.
But until it does, a lot of the CGI budget goes towards me and the cat.”
“And your runny nose,” Parris jokes.
As the cast would come to learn, training on land is one thing.
Taking to the sky is much more difficult.
“It was alotof wire work for Monica.”
“I fell onto the ground,” Larson recalls, giggling.
“I fell over.
I couldn’t believe it.
It was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“I thought I held it together!”
Parris adds, shaking her head.
I was like, ‘Oh, I guess everybodydidsee that."
The cast hopes that silliness shines through whenThe Marvelsflies into theaters this fall.
“It doesn’t have to be intense and heavy,” Larson says.
“There’s a lot of humor.
I think this movie’s very funny, and we laughed a lot while making it.”
After all, it’s much easier to handle the spotlight when you’re sharing it.
“I felt very moved, actually, being involved in it.
That just doesn’t happen.”
c’mon stop.’
I hope people recognize that and find ways to identify with all of our characters."
Larson and Parris nod, beaming at their teammate.
Larson says with a smile.
“We should just let Iman answer all these questions.”
Additional reporting by Sydney Bucksbaum.
These interviews were conducted prior to the start of the SAG-AFTRA strike.
