Newcomer Iman Vellani tapped to play the title role in Disney+'s Ms. Marvel

Deadline

Vellani, an 18-year-old from Canada, will star in the Marvel series from writer Bisha K. Ali centering on Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American teen based in New Jersey. Vellani's casting as Marvel's first Muslim superhero came after a long and hard search. "The plan always was to stay true to the character in finding the right actress to play the role, even if it meant offering a person that was not well known to the public," reports Deadline's Justin Kroll. Vellani's character will also appear in Marvel Cinematic Universe films. “Speechless and excited! Wish me luck,” Vellani wrote on Instagram.