Iman Vellani Secretly Debates Ms. Marvel Theories With Fans Online

Ms. Marvel star Iman Vellani engages in fan discourse about Marvel theories using private social media accounts. Vellani portrays Kamala Khan in Ms. Marvel on the Disney+ series, which premiered on June 8th and wrapped up on July 13th. The series serves as the introduction of Kamala (and Vellani) to the MCU, following Khan as she wrestles with balancing her newfound powers with her family and everyday life as a Pakistani-American teen. 

The series has spawned no shortage of fan theories online, particularly due to a mutant tease in the last minutes of the finale. In the scene, Kamala’s friend and resident science expert Bruno refers to her having “some sort of mutation” as a possible explanation for her powers while the X-Men theme plays in the background. With Kamala’s return to the screen officially confirmed for 2023’s The Marvels, theories abound as to whether the phase 5 film will delve deeper into mutant lore, and what it might lead to in subsequent phases. The finale’s post-credits scene featured a Captain Marvel cameo which presumably sets up The Marvels, igniting more burning fan questions. 

In an interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Vellani discusses her connection to the character and the surrealness of being a Marvel fan and taking on a role in the MCU. She goes on to describe one of the perks of being a super-fan with the inside scoop. Check out what she had to say: 

“I’m not present on social media publicly but I do have a lot of private accounts, especially on Reddit. I’m just like, arguing with people about theories like, ‘you don’t even know what’s coming, man! You’re so wrong!’ It’s so liberating.” 

This hobby marks another similarity between Vellani and her on-screen character. In Ms. Marvel, Kamala’s YouTube channel is introduced even before she is, featuring fanart and fanfiction about various heroes as well as theories about what certain Avengers are up to. Kamala’s fandom has roots in the comics, with Ms. Marvel excitedly telling other heroes about her fanfics upon meeting them. It’s safe to say the on-screen adaptation of Kamala is likely to follow in her comic predecessor’s footsteps and be just as geeky when she meets her fellow heroes. With Vellani’s confession about her secret engagement with the fanbase, it’s clear that the character is in perfect hands.  

Vellani is the latest in a new cast of Marvel actors who have a built-in passion for their characters’ source material and larger universes. From Tom Holland’s Spider-Man fandom to Hailee Steinfeld’s enthusiasm for the MCU, many of the actors taking on the roles of Marvel’s younger heroes grew up with comics and superhero movies. This follows an in-universe MCU trend in which heroes like Kamala Khan, Peter Parker, and Kate Bishop idolize Avengers from afar before eventually getting wrapped up in their world. It’s a smart and humorous way to deal with the fact that the MCU’s heroes no longer exist in a vacuum and are part of a rapidly expanding larger world. This dynamic may also offer plenty of emotional payoff in future movies and shows, as young super-fans like Ms. Marvel eventually meet – and fight alongside – their heroes. In any case, as the Internet keeps running wild with theories, perhaps Vellani will jump into the conversation once in a while and set the record straight.