Iman Vellani Addresses Backlash on Ms. Marvel’s Change of Powers

With Marvel Studios gearing up for the premiere of Ms. Marvel on Disney+, some comic fans have been complaining about the decision to change Kamala’s powers from its original shapeshifting nature to something more akin to Green Lantern.

Despite the backlash, actress Iman Vellani has spoken out about the power change, and says that the show still stays true to Kamala as a character. She tells Empire (via @MsMarvelUK):

“I’m very possessive of Kamala. I think we stay true to what the comics brought. For all I care she could shoot sausages out her fingers, as long as she still goes on that self-discovery journey.”

Iman Vellani says she’s comfortable with the #MsMarvel power changes:

“I’m very possessive of Kamala. I think we stay true to what the comics brought. For all I care she could shoot sausages out her fingers, as long as she still goes on that self-discovery journey.” pic.twitter.com/UzYYwEmjQM

— Ms. Marvel UK⚡️ (@MsMarvelUK) May 12, 2022

We don’t know the specific reason Marvel decided to change Kamala’s powers, but some think that they wanted her to look different from another recently established MCU hero—Reed Richards a.k.a. Mister Fantastic. Some also speculate that it would be harder to show Kamala’s powers on a TV budget, so light projections were easier to emulate onscreen.

Personally, I thought that the goofiness of Kamala’s powers were a huge chunk of her personality; and some have pointed out the contrast of Kamala being grossed out by her powers in the comics compared to her being amazed by them in the trailers.

To be fair, the show hasn’t come out yet, so we’ll just have to wait and see what Marvel has to bring to Ms. Marvel before we pass any judgement. If you ask me, as long as the young girls find a superhero to identify with, the series would have done its job.

Catch Ms. Marvel when it premieres on Disney+ on June 8.