Despite the fact that Captain Marvel is over three years away, 2015 has been filled with rumors on which actress will play Carol Danvers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. One of the more frequently mentioned names is Emily Blunt, who has plenty of action experience on her resume from films like Looper, Edge of Tomorrow, and the upcoming Sicario. This past weekend in Toronto, Blunt went on record again to say that she hasn’t talked with Marvel, but she does have a theory why she’s being repeatedly being associated with the movie.
While confirming that she hasn’t "heard anything about Captain Marvel," Blunt shared her opinion with Indiewire on why she and actresses like Charlize Theron and Rebecca Ferguson are being featured on these short lists for the superheroine. In her words:
I think it’s because the list is very short, because we don’t see women in these kind of roles. So I think as soon as you do a role like that, like Charlize did or I did, or Rebecca’s done — there’s like four of us or something. And Jen Lawrence. So I feel like us four, we get talked about — and Angie, Angelina. So it’s a list of like, four women who are going to be considered for those kind of roles. So I think that’s why the rumors happen, because they’re like, "who else? Surely not another girl can wield a gun," you know what I mean? "A woman doing push-ups? There’s only one who can do that.
Blunt brings up a good point. Most of the actresses who have been rumored to be in the running for Captain Marvel all have previous experience playing strong, action-heavy characters, which is why they’re no doubt frequently being mentioned. Granted, when it comes to superhero movies, it’s great if actors already have action experience, but at the same time, that doesn’t mean they should be the only ones considered. Of course, just like every movie studio, Marvel has their own casting process, so it remains to be seen whether they’ll go with an established action star or think outside the box with their decision.
Blunt’s comments aside, who will play Captain Marvel on the big screen is still very much a guessing game. Ferguson is the latest actress that Marvel is reportedly looking at, and UFC fighter Ronda Rousey has expressed interest in playing the character. At the current pace, it’s doubtful we’ll learn who is playing Carol Danvers until sometime next year, and even that’s not a guarantee.
As Marvel’s third-to-last film in Phase Three (following Black Panther and preceding Avengers: Infinity War Part II), Captain Marvel will fly into theaters on November 2, 2018.
