Ms Marvel Star Reveals Her Fears About Changing Comics Lore (& Asking Kevin Feige’s Advice) [Exclusive]

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Kamala Khan has quickly become one of Marvel’s most popular new characters. She breathed new life into the Ms. Marvel persona, transforming her into the powerful hero fans know today. From her impact on comic books to her recent debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Kamala’s star is rapidly rising. A key part of her success is Iman Vellani, the talented actress who portrays her. Vellani is becoming a prominent name in acting, with roles in two MCU projects and an upcoming appearance in Andy Serkis’s film, Animal Farm, releasing May 1st.

ComicBook spoke with the stars of Animal Farm and also had a chance to ask Iman Vellani about the biggest criticism of her work on Ms. Marvel. The Marvel Cinematic Universe gave Kamala Khan a completely new set of powers, different from what she had in the comics – and those powers actually ended up appearing in the comics too. Vellani co-wrote the Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant miniseries, which reimagined Kamala as a mutant, and she talked about her worries about making such a big change and how Kevin Feige supported her through the process.

I recall being really hesitant about a particular storyline – it involved introducing a character’s MCU powers in the comics, and it sparked a lot of debate among fans. Honestly, I almost didn’t want to tackle it. I reached out to Kevin Feige, first through email and then in person, completely admitting I was stuck. I was worried about getting it wrong and making sure we were approaching the story with the right intentions. Thankfully, Kevin has been incredibly supportive of my work on the comic. He really lets me explore ideas, even if I just kind of… spill them all out at once, and he’s always willing to listen. I feel really well-supported within that creative community.

The New Ms. Marvel, Courtesy of Reinvention

Comic book fans often strongly resist changes to their favorite characters, especially when those changes seem to be influenced by the movies. Big alterations to a character’s personality or appearance to make them more like their on-screen version are usually met with criticism. As this is Iman Vellani’s first time writing comics, and she’s closely associated with these changes to a popular character, she faced a lot of pressure. It’s not surprising she had some hesitation, and it’s positive that she was able to discuss her concerns with the president of Marvel Studios.

It’s impossible to please everyone, and some fans were determined to dislike the changes to Ms. Marvel regardless of the creative choices. The best approach was to focus on telling the story Iman Vellani believed in, and that’s what she did. She wrote the new version of the character she played on screen, and that experience deepened her connection to the role.

How Writing Ms Marvel Helped Iman Vellaini Play Her in the MCU

Taking on the role of the new Ms. Marvel and introducing that change to comic book fans was daunting, but Iman Vellani fully dedicated herself to the project. Acting involves embodying a character, while writing requires understanding their thoughts and building the world around them, shaping the story and allowing the character to influence it in return. Though both acting and writing involve character work, they’re different skills, and Iman explained how writing the Ms. Marvel series deeply informed her portrayal of the character.

I realized it really helped me understand myself better. The first show I wrote, I worked with an amazing co-writer named Saba, and I really opened up to him. I wanted the show to be a symbolic representation of everything I experienced when I started at Marvel.

It felt like everything changed instantly. Kamala regaining her powers as a mutant mirrored my own experience getting cast in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I was overwhelmed with possibilities and worried about losing myself in the process. I’d always had a strong sense of who I was, especially as a teenager, and I was determined not to lose that.

My biggest worry was becoming one of those people you hear about in Hollywood – someone who loses themselves. Creating comic books really helped me understand how my mind works. I’m naturally a visual thinker, so that part came easily. The real challenge was making the story relatable and meaningful for fans who already love this character as much as I do. It was tough, but I definitely learned a lot about myself in the process.

It’s incredibly challenging to write and perform a character, especially when reimagining one that already exists. Iman Vellani impressively played Ms. Marvel while also adding her own unique touch to the role. Even well-established characters continue to evolve, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what Iman Vellani and Ms. Marvel do next.

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2026-04-25 00:14