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Iman Vellani

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Iman Vellani
Born(2002-08-12)August 12, 2002(age 22)[1]
Karachi,Pakistan
NationalityCanadian
OccupationActress
Years active2019–present

Iman Vellani(/ɪˈmɑːnvəˈlɑːni/;[2]born August 12, 2002) is a Canadian actress and comic book writer.[3][4]She starred asKamala Khanin theMarvel Cinematic Universe(MCU) miniseriesMs. Marvel(2022) andMarvel Zombies(2024) and the filmThe Marvels(2023).[5][6][7]Vellani has also appeared as Khan in other Disney productions[8][9]and has co-written twoMs. Marvellimited series.[10][11]

Early life

[edit]

Born inKarachi,Pakistan,Vellani moved toCanadawhen she was a year old,[12][13][14]and was raised as anIsmailiMuslim.[15]She graduated fromUnionville High SchoolinMarkham, Ontario.[16][17][18]Vellani was selected as a member of the TIFF Next Wave Committee at the2019 Toronto International Film Festival.[19][20]Before being cast inMs. Marvelat the end of her last year of high school, Vellani had planned to attend theOntario College of Art & Design Universitywith a focus on integrated media.[21]

Career

[edit]

Acting

[edit]

In September 2020, it was revealed Vellani was cast as theMarvel Cinematic UniversesuperheroKamala KhanforMarvel StudiosandDisney+'sstreaming televisionminiseriesMs. Marvel.[22]Vellani's aunt had forwarded her a casting call for the role; she submitted a self-tape before being asked to audition in Los Angeles;[21]and eventually had two screen tests: in-person in February that year, and virtually overZoomin June.[23]Kamala Khan co-creatorSana Amanat—who served as an executive producer on the series—said Vellani revealed in her Zoom screen test that she, like Khan, is anAvengersfangirl. Amanat said, "She showed me every corner of her room, and it was covered with Avengers. Then she said, 'Oh, wait; I'm not done', opened up her closet, and there was more Marvel everywhere".[24]

On June 8, 2022,Ms. Marvelpremiered on Disney+, marking Vellani's onscreen debut.[25][26][27]Both the series and her portrayal of the title character received widespread praise.[28][29][30]Kathryn Porter ofPastewrote that Vellani "shines" in the role and that there was "no way to explain how great she is in this other than to say that she embodies the true spirit of Kamala Khan".[31]Mohammad Zaheer ofBBC Culturecalled her "an adorable bundle of charisma" in a role "tailor-made for her",[32]while Angie Han ofThe Hollywood Reportersaid that Vellani's full of "youthful verve and irresistible moxie" in her role.[33]The miniseries concluded on July 13, 2022, consisting of six episodes.[34][35]For her performance in the program, Vellani won aSaturn Award[36]and received nominations for anAstra TV Award[37]and aCritics Choice Super Award.[38]From July 2022, Vellani appeared inDisney Wish's CGI—immersive interactive experience,Avengers: Quantum Encounter,reprising her role as Khan.[8]

Vellani reprised her role as Kamala Khan in the 2023 filmThe Marvels,a sequel to the 2019 filmCaptain Marvel,which also serves as a continuation ofMs. Marvel;it was released in November.[39][40][41]The film received polarizing reviews from critics;[42]however, Vellani's performance was regarded as the standout amongst the cast. Amelia Emberwing ofIGNdeclared that she "predictably steals the show",[43]Helen O'HaraofEmpirepraised her humor and emotional depth with the "two older heroes."[44]whilst Christian Holub ofEntertainment Weeklynoted Vellani as a "shining star" despite his lukewarm review of the film.[45]

Vellani will voice an animated version of Kamala Khan for Disney+'sMarvel Zombies,which is the series adaptation ofthe fifth episodeof the animated series,What If...?.[46][9]

Writing

[edit]

In August 2023, Vellani made her comic writing debut with the four-issuelimited seriesMs. Marvel: The New Mutant,co-written by Sabir Pirzada, who wrote the limited seriesDark Web: Ms. Marveland an episode of theMs. Marvelshow. It features Ms. Marvel exploring her newfound dual heritage as anInhumanand amutantand becoming a member of theX-Men.[47][48]Lia Williamson ofAIPTpraised Vellani's handling of the character's new status quo as "[her] knowledge and love for the character allow her to make lemonade out of the lemons she's been given"; the writer opined that Vellani's "robust love and passion" for Kamala Khan "shines throughout her writing".[10]After the conclusion ofThe New Mutantin November 2023, it was announced that the series would be followed by a sequel four-issue limited series titledMs. Marvel: Mutant Menace,with Vellani and Pirazda returning as writers; the first issue was released on March 6, 2024.[11][49]Alex Schlesinger, also forAIPT,praised the final issue ofMutant Menace,commenting that "Vellani is a Marvel superfan, so she knows how important Kamala's identity and power set are to her readers, and her and Pirzada do a wonderful job of introducing Ms. Marvel's MCU ability while keeping her polymorph powers."[50]

Vellani is set to write several more Ms. Marvel issues with Pirzada, includingMs. MarvelAnnual#1 on July 31, 2024, which is part of the connectedInfinity Watchstoryline,[51][52]and a short story which will be part of the anthologyone-shotMarvel 85th Anniversary Specialcommemorating Marvel Comics' 85th anniversary, on August 28, 2024.[53]

Filmography

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Key
† Denotes productions that have not yet been released

Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2023 The Marvels Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel [40]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2022 A Fan's Guide to Ms. Marvel Herself / Kamala Khan Documentary short [54][55]
Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel Miniseries [56]
Marvel Studios: Assembled Herself / Kamala Khan Docu-series;special: "The Making ofMs. Marvel" [57][58]
TBA Marvel Zombies† Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel (voice) In-production [46]

Theme park attractions

[edit]
Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2022 Avengers: Quantum Encounter Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel Disney Wish [8]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant#1–4 (with co-writer Sabir Pirzada and illustrators Carlos Gómez and Adam Gorham, 2023) collected asMs. Marvel: The New Mutant(TPB,120 pages, March 2024,ISBN978-1-302-95490-1)[59]
  • Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace#1–4 (with co-writer Sabir Pirzada and illustrator Scott Godlewski, 2024)[11]
  • Ms. Marvel Annual(2024) #1 (with co-writersDerek Landy,Sabir Pirzada and illustrators Giada Belviso andSara Pichelli,July 2024) [Upcoming][60][61]
  • Marvel 85th Anniversary Special(with co-writer Sabir Pirzada and illustrators TBA, anthology, August 2024) [Upcoming][62]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2022 Saturn Awards Best Performance by a Younger Actor (Streaming) Ms. Marvel Won [63][64]
2023 Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in a Superhero Series Nominated [65]
2023 Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Youth Performance The Marvels Nominated [66]
2023 Las Vegas Film Critics Society Best Youth in Film (Female) Nominated [67][68]
2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards Breakout of the Year Nominated [69]
2024 Astra TV Awards Best Actress in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Ms. Marvel Nominated [70]
2024 Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in a Superhero Movie The Marvels Won [71][72]

References

[edit]
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  10. ^abWilliamson, Lia (November 9, 2023)."Ms. Marvel, mutants, and the MCU problem: how Iman Vellani is writing the path forward".AIPT Comics.Archivedfrom the original on November 12, 2023.RetrievedNovember 12,2023.
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  18. ^Unionville High School[@UHSupdates] (October 1, 2020)."Congrats to Unionville High School alumni, Iman Vellani!! We are celebrating with you!!"(Tweet).RetrievedJune 6,2022– viaTwitter.
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