Iman Vellani

OME HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES GET LUGGAGE, OTHERS GET CAST AS Marvel superheroes. Well, actually, that only happens to Iman Vellani, who plays the title character in the new Disney+ series (June 8). “I got the part literally on the last day of comic book reader,” and she “knew exactly which comic books they were pulling the scripts from” once filming began. “We still very much stay true to the themes and tone of the comics.” One aspect that sets teen superhero Ms. Marvel (aka Kamala Khan) apart: she’s the first Muslim superhero, an aspect of the character Vellani could relate to. “Growing up, religion and culture was always just a part of my life. It never felt like a burden.” Vellani hopes that children of immigrant parents in particular take something from the series. “People just seeing someone like me on screen is enough. That’s what it was for me when I read the comics for the first time. I just saw myself.”