Iman Vellani to Play Marvel's First Muslim Superhero

Actress Iman Vellani is set to portray young superhero Ms. Marvel, in the highly-anticipated Disney+ series of the same name. Fans were enthralled by the series' trailer. Check out the video below.

Marvel Studios has released the official trailer for its forthcoming series "Ms. Marvel," starring Pakistani-Canadian actress Iman Vellani as a teen-turned-superhero. The series will be streamed starting on June 8.

Vellani plays an awkward high school kid who is a huge Captain Marvel fan, as seen in the trailer. While balancing her studies, religion, and forming new friendships, she discovered a mysterious bracelet that would change her life forever.

IMAN VELLANI TO PLAY MARVEL'S FIRST MUSLIM SUPERHERO

Vellani stars as Kamala Khan in the series, making her the first-ever Muslim actress to be featured in a Marvel series. The 19-year-old actress was born in Pakistan and raised in Canada.

In real life, the Pakistani-Canadian actress is much like her character. Vellani is a self-proclaimed "geek" who would obsess about reading comics about incredible fictional superheroes.

Vellani's journey to becoming a superhero of Muslim heritage seems to be a personal one. In a recent interview with The Guardian, she felt "very disconnected" from her culture and religion while growing up in Canada.

As a woman of color, Vellani struggled to live and blend in a foreign country. "I didn't have any brown friends that weren't from my mosque, and I didn't hang out with them," said the teen star.

Vellani learned a lot about her family ancestry while filming "Ms. Marvel," adding that she had an opportunity to collaborate with many incredible creators who are of Muslim or Pakistani descent.

Vellani believes in the importance of representation and will never tire of representing her unique ethnicity in the entertainment industry. She also described her first series starring role as "monumental."

WHO IS KAMALA KHAN?

A typical teenager from Jersey City, New Jersey, Kamala Khan enjoys video games, fanfiction, and shopping. She also adores Super Heroes, particularly Captain Marvel; Carol Danvers.

But she's more than that – Kamala is Ms. Marvel, who made history in 2014 by becoming the first Muslim Marvel hero (and Pakistani American) to lead a series.

Kamala first appeared in "Captain Marvel" (2012), but fans learned more about her in her own series "Ms. Marvel" (2014). The youngest of two children, Kamala is raised by very strict parents.

She sneaks out of her room one night to attend a party, only to find herself enveloped in Terrigen Mist, which unlocks hidden supernatural abilities. From then on, Kamala vows to be a hero like her idol Captain Marvel and brands herself as Ms. Marvel.

Breaking stereotypes, Kamala does not wear a hijab. While her best friend wears one, Kamala is more concerned with the swimming costume she's wearing as a superhero suit. It conveys that many Muslim women have interests outside of the hijab.

HOW VIEWERS REACTED TO MS. MARVEL?

The trailer generated a plethora of reactions from fans. Some thanked and commended Marvel for promoting diversity, while others expressed intense excitement.

One thrilled fan described the upcoming series as "cosmic," while another added to the hype with a comment saying that the show exceeded his expectations after watching it.

"Thanks for bringing Kamala into the MCU!" a fan noted. Recently, Marvel Studios released a trailer for the "She-Hulk" series, starred by Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany.

The superhero series revolves around a woman lawyer turned superhero with the help of her cousin, Dr. Bruce Banner, famously known as The Hulk.