This International Women’s Day (IWD) will see Marvel make history as the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will release its first female solo film: “Captain Marvel”.
The film is highly anticipated as, in its 11 years of film making, the MCU has never given a superheroine her own film, despite calls for a Black Widow movie and DC releasing “Wonder Woman” in 2017.
#BalanceforBetter is this IWD theme, rather fitting for the film’s release as hopefully it will change the balance of films in the MCU. This could be the start of a range of female solo films, especially with new rumours circling of a Black Widow movie.
Importance to Women and Girls
The film is of great importance to women and girls alike, Captain Marvel herself - Brie Larson - has shown her support for a GoFundMe campaign, powered by We Have Stories, to send young girls from Girls Inc. LA to go see the film.
They state that it is important for young girls to see they can be strong, and what they could aspire to be. The campaign has raised over $60,000 to rent out a cinema for girls from all backgrounds.
The initial goal was to raise $20,000 but due to global support they have tripled this and will be spending the excess on their goals to “expand their programs in STEM education, literacy, and math to more girls in Watts, Compton, and South LA.”
While there has been debate surrounding the issue of using superheroes as role models it is certain that for some young boys they help to inspire them to be the best they can be. Hopefully Captain Marvel will do the same for young girls across the globe, allowing them to feel as empowered as their male counterparts often are.
What we know so far…
How Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) will link into the MCU is pretty much unknown at this point in time but it’s fairly certain she will appear in “Avengers: End Game” as we saw Nick Fury page her at the end of “Infinity War”.
Back in September Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, told Entertainment Weekly that Danvers “is more powerful than any character we've introduced thus far.”
“So that alone tells you that there’s a reason Nick hit that button at the end [of Infinity War], when he realized that they were up against something far bigger than they had ever been up against before.
“And having her on your side is hopefully going to change the balance of power in a way that they desperately need.”
Note he said any CHARACTER not hero, so could she be stronger than Thanos? Could Captain Marvel, a woman, save the universe?
It’s a plausible theory and one that many fans have taken a liking to, one thing is certain though if she defeats him there will be hordes of young girls looking up to her, inspired to be strong and independent like their idol.
I for one can’t wait to see where her journey takes us and having been a Marvel fan for almost a decade I was both ecstatic and emotional when the film was announced. If this film can have such an impact on me, a 21-year-old, then imagine what it could do for a little girl waiting for a hero.
“Captain Marvel” will be released on March 8th, keep your eyes peeled for Radar’s review.
(Image by Gage Skidmore)