Ms. Marvel Found Its Star Thanks to WhatsApp

Ms. Marvel not only marks the Marvel Cinematic Universe debut for the titular character, aka Kamala Khan, but it also marks the first acting role for the star of the Disney+ series, Iman Vellani.

[{"selector":"#anim-632577e0-9743-4b43-addc-a0403444d11f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.458791356631124%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7cf0782c-1073-4ea8-92f7-d24eea12d8e0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a0aaf68a-8229-433f-badd-70d22af1ee3f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.2381%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The MCU is filled to the brim with superstars who've been working in the industry for years, as seen recently with Oscar Isaac as Moon Knight or Charlize Theron as Clea, so it's great to see the studio is still looking at aspiring actors for its next big thing.

[{"selector":"#anim-0b5e5074-fa1d-4451-876c-7aed750005ea [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-38.265392495374314%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf6deb10-4155-465e-aa27-624b04707437","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f35847d6-31da-4bd8-a565-d0455347507a","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(-180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] During a press conference for Ms. Marvel attended by CBR, participants learned exactly how a recent high school graduate ended up on the MCU's radar, and it's all thanks to WhatsApp.

[{"selector":"#anim-0d75c178-904b-4c53-9bae-3a227bccc139 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(3.555803624153423%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e241747-051c-4517-bea0-7216394956ab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8cb29d6d-cf85-43ca-9eb3-d74e85804a37","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.60510%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] According to the moderator of the press conference, Vellani received the casting call from her aunt on the messenger app. As Vellani reminisced, she admitted that seemed like a strange way to get a Marvel casting call.

[{"selector":"#anim-e297db54-6cb4-4e8f-8a8d-ef0bdf7e41b1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-76cbb9cb-b706-42f5-b1c0-7073a3ab8178","keyframes":[{"transform":"rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","opacity":0},{"transform":"none","opacity":1}],"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both","iterations":1}] "February 2022, I get the WhatsApp forward," Vellani described. "I thought it was a scam. I don't know what casting calls look like, but they are not white pages that say, 'Ms. Marvel, Disney+ and headshot and resume here.'

[{"selector":"#anim-29a1cdce-511d-4450-a1ae-f335d32ea54b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6a473da2-2684-43b6-bcc1-a943206881b9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b128ea1-571b-4bf1-9623-4156a36b3af8","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] So, it turned out to be real... sent in a very academic resume, the one photo I had of myself, and they sent back the sides for the self-tape."

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[{"selector":"#anim-a217ad45-c0b0-43fb-b199-9e88f7df41aa [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-38.677163542137436%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-827ded5c-d9b4-41ae-8dae-5291ff971283","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ebdc17f-fe20-46fe-82ca-dbf25ada26a1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Fans of the series are certainly glad that she followed through with the rest of the audition process, however.