Riz Ahmed, Mindy Kaling want to co-write Ms. Marvel's script with Kumail Nanjiani

Can these three to do justice to Kamala Khan aka Ms Marvel's story of a young Pakistani American Muslim superhero?

16 May, 2018

So Riz Ahmed has thrown his name into the ring to write Marvel Studio’s Ms. Marvel movie.

This comes after Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) boss Kevin Feige announced that there were big screen plans for Ms Marvel, a character whose real name is Kamala Khan, a teen Pakistani-American Muslim superhero.

But Riz doesn't just want it all for himself; the actor, rapper and activist wants to co-write the script with Mindy Kaling and Kumail Nanjiani.

So when do @MarvelStudios want me @mindykaling @kumailn to get started on the MsMarvel screenplay ?
— Riz Ahmed (@rizmc) May 16, 2018

And Kaling is already onboard!

Riz! I am obsessed with this comic book, I’ve read them all. I love Kamala Khan. https://t.co/f3PevhfUzv
— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) May 16, 2018

Given their respective backgrounds (Ahmed is British-Pakistani, Kaling has Indian heritage and Nanjiani is Pakistani-American), it's obvious Ahmed wants to have a diverse creative team who can do justice to Kamala's story. But we have to ask: are Kaling and Nanjiani really the right people to narrate this story? Just being brown shouldn't be an all-access pass.

Ahmed himself is no stranger to the comic book movie world; he’ll be playing the villainous Carlton Drake in the upcoming Venom flick.

Ms. Marvel was created by editors Sana Amanat and Stephen Wacker, writer G. Willow Wilson and artist Adrian Alphona. Khan is Marvel’s first Muslim character to headline her own comic book and made her first appearance in Captain Marvel #14 (August 2013) before going on to star in the solo series Ms. Marvel in February 2014.

Khan is a teenage Pakistani American from Jersey City, New Jersey with shapeshifting abilities and assumes the mantle of Ms. Marvel from her idol, Carol Danvers after Danvers becomes Captain Marvel.

Comments

akram May 16, 2018 02:49pm

is there not a single Pakistani American actress who can play this character? Mindy does not even look Pakistani.

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mani May 16, 2018 03:58pm

You guys make a cool team, Riz. Will be super stoked if it gets real.

Pakistani May 16, 2018 04:33pm

Please read the article carefully Mindy is not going to act as Miss Marvel, she is co - writing the script with the other two.

ahmad May 16, 2018 04:39pm

Isn't it a bit desperate, I mean usually aspiring writers do such things like tweeting to a famous director asking for work.

Ali May 16, 2018 05:18pm

Send Mehwish from Pakistan for this role

Salma May 16, 2018 05:40pm

He is asking Mindy Kaling to write the script not act as the superhero. Mindy is too old to be cast as Kamala Khan.

Zain Hasan May 16, 2018 06:23pm

@akram They are writing the script, not playing the character, duh! And who looks "typical Pakistani" btw??? Blue eyed girl from Kailash? African heritage girl from Makran? Dusky girl from Multan? Dark beauty from Thar? Slender girl from Karachi? Big bone from Faisalabad? Smaller eyed girl from Hazara? Tall girl from Peshawar? Pakistan is too diverse for your small brain...

Hammad Y Bilal May 16, 2018 06:42pm

@akram Shes not campaigning to play the character. She just wants to be part of the creative process when making this movie.

Syed Zaidi May 16, 2018 10:51pm

sad to see what hollywood has come to

Amir May 16, 2018 11:17pm

I hope they hire Pakistani actors for this movie. Mehwish Hayat should be cast as Kamala Khan. Will also love to see Javed Sheikh in this project.

neo May 17, 2018 04:21am

@akram wow...what a racist comment

Roz May 17, 2018 08:52am

Great